Adorably cute bear cub is rescued by New Jersey State Troopers after its mother abandoned it by side of road

Published: 21:43, 3 April 2026 | Updated: 21:47, 3 April 2026 A tiny bear cub is safe and recovering after New Jersey state troopers responded to an unusual call about the helpless animal found alone along a busy highway. Troopers from Troop B’s Perryville Station were dispatched to I-78 East in Union Township at around 1:37pm on April 1 after reports of a lone cub spotted in a roadside ditch near milepost 12.2. When officers arrived, they discovered the small bear by itself with no sign of its mother. ‘Upon arrival, troopers found the small cub alone and in need of assistance,’ New Jersey State Police said in a Facebook post. The cub was carefully secured and transported back to the barracks, where troopers ensured it was safe before transferring it to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for proper care. ‘Thanks to the swift response of the troopers, the cub is now safe and receiving the attention he needs,’ the agency added. Photos shared by police show one trooper posing with the rescued cub, while another image captures the animal hiding in the patrol vehicle. It remains unclear how the cub became separated from its mother, though wildlife experts say young animals can sometimes appear abandoned when they are not. New Jersey State Police rescued a lone bear cub found in a roadside ditch along I-78 in Union Township after responding to an 'unusual' call The cub was taken to a barracks and later handed over to the Department of Environmental Protection, where it is now receiving proper care ‘Young wildlife may appear to be abandoned, but it is likely that the mother is nearby,’ the Department of Environmental Protection said. Officials added that residents should contact a wildlife rehabilitator or local authorities before intervening, noting it is illegal to possess injured or orphaned wildlife without a permit. Black bears are native to New Jersey and have made a strong comeback in recent decades.  Once nearly wiped out due to habitat loss and hunting, the species is now thriving and has been sighted in all 21 counties. They are typically solitary animals that tend to avoid humans, though they can be drawn into residential areas in search of food. Wildlife officials warn that leaving out garbage or other food sources can attract bears and cause them to associate people with food, increasing the risk of dangerous encounters. The comments below have not been moderated. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.