East Canyon Fire has burned almost 3,000 acres and stands at zero containment, as of June 16.

The East Canyon Fire is ravaging the landscape in southwestern Colorado, and leaving behind burned wilderness, causing evacuations, and shutting down highways in the area. It's also taking its toll on wildlife in the area, including one yearling bear that was reported to the Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW). 

According to CPW, residents on the boundaries of the fire reported a bear, which appeared to be burned, wandering the area. The CPW was able to locate the bear and when wildlife officers approached it, it did not run, which really shows how much pain it was in. 

"Across the road from where we found it the area was burned heavily," said responding wildlife officer Steve McClung. "There were little spot fires and some stumps burning. We can’t say exactly what happened, but it probably got caught and had to move across some hot spots."

The officers were able to tranquilize it, and they found it had severe burns on its paws.

Despite the burns, the bear is expected to make a full recovery. It was transported to a wildlife rehab facility in San Luis Valley, which specializes in treating bears while maintaining their natural behavior, so they can reintegrate into the wild once they are healed. 

"The prognosis is good and the underlying tissue is healthy," said Michael Sirochman, veterinary manager at Frisco Creek. "We cut off the burned tissue that was sloughing off and we put on bandages."

CPW officers rescued a bear Tuesday from the East Canyon fire in southwest Colorado. The bear is now at our rehab facility in the San Luis Valley and is expected to make a full recovery. Read all about it:https://t.co/PyjEyOf5xu @COParksWildlife pic.twitter.com/zOymW4QucI

— CPW SW Region (@CPW_SW) June 17, 2020

This is the second bear to land at the rehab facility due to fire in the area. A cub was rescued from the 416 Fire near Durango two years ago and was also treated for severe paw burns. That cub was returned to the wild during hibernation, having been placed in a manmade den until it emerged during the spring. 

You can read more about this bear rescue on the CPW website.