'Cinder,' bear badly burned in wildfire, to return to wild after rehab

SEATTLE — Cinder, a black bear severely burned in the biggest wildfire in Washington state history, was released back into the wild in a forest near Leavenworth on Wednesday.

Quick Facts:

• The bear cub was named Cinder because she was badly burned
• Paws burned so badly she was walking on elbows
• Cinder underwent rehab for months
• She was released about 30 miles north of Leavenworth

When Cinder was discovered in the Carlton complex fire last July, she was so badly burned -- she was walking on her elbows.
 
It was clear, even from that point, that Cinder was a fighter.
 
She recovered at a wildlife care facility in Lake Tahoe, California and then spent the winter hibernating at an Idaho rehab center.
 
Experts said she is now ready to be on her own.
 
"This is the end of the journey," Rich Beausoleil said.

PHOTOS: Cinder's injuries, recovery
 
Beausoleil is a wildlife biologist with the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife.
 
Beausoleil said today is a proud day for the numerous specialists who cared for Cinder and everyone who rallied for her recovery.
 
Fish and Wildlife carefully picked a spot near Leavenworth to release her.
 
"There's great spring food supply," Beausoleil explained. "We're about a month ahead on berry productions because of weather conditions."
 
Using what they call "tough love," the release began with dogs barking and rifles loaded with cracker shells being prepped. Beausoleil said it's important to make this last visit with people a negative one for Cinder.
 
Once the cage opened and Cinder took off running, you couldn't even tell her hind paws are disfigured.
 
Cinder also wasn't alone. She was joined by a male buddy who she met in Idaho.
 
"Cinder took this younger bear under her arm," Beausoleil said. "So we're doing two releases today.  Not for Cinder's benefit but for the second bear's benefit."
 
Using pyrotechnics and dogs, officials hope the bears stay hidden in the woods.
 
"It's a great spot," Beausoleil added. "We've done our job. So now it's up to Cinder."

Here's a message from the rehabilitation center where Cinder recovered --

Cinder is a poster bear for bear rehab much like Smokey the bear is for forest fires. She is truly my own personal hero and poster bear now. She handled such severe injuries and trauma, she handled the rehab process, the handled the stress of the release process, and she stepped into her own world of freedom like a queen and showed us all what bears can do and that it works. Today, while we can't protect her any longer, she has her freedom, she has charge of her own life, she showed us all that we need to be there to help bears like her, injured or orphaned. She has done more to help her kind and rehab than can possibly be imagined. Thanks to all of you who supported the rehab, you cared for her and followed her progress - she showed us all and now we can hopefully save more orphaned and injured bears.

KIRO