In the summer of 2021, a wildfire tore through Northern California, leaving behind ash, smoke, and loss. Among the survivors was Tamarack, a tiny black bear cub found alone, his paws badly burned.
Rescuers brought him to a wildlife care center to heal, with a simple plan: keep him safe until his injuries healed.
But Tamarack had his own plan.
One night, he dug under the electric fence and disappeared into the forest. Weeks went by with no sign of him—until trail cameras began to reveal the rest of the story.
There he was—healthy, exploring, splashing in streams, wandering beneath towering pines. He was more than surviving. He was free.
Then came the moment that melted hearts everywhere: a camera caught Tamarack playing with a stuffed teddy bear he had found in the woods. He tossed it in the air, rolled beside it, and batted it like a carefree cub.
Tamarack didn’t just escape.
He returned to life.
To joy.
To the wild.
Because even after the flames, life can bloom again.
And yes—even wild bears play.