Bear cub rescuer: "He was going to die" - KOBI-TV NBC5 / KOTI-TV NBC2

Salem, Ore. — (KGW) — An Oregon man could face punishment after rescuing a young bear cub he discovered along a hiking trail.

Corey Hancock took the cub to a wildlife center where it’s been nursed back to health, but he has been scolded for picking it up in the first place. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife says it’s illegal to take wildlife out of their habitat, punishable by a citation and possibly a fine.

Hancock was out taking photos of waterfalls Monday night near the north fork of the Santiam River, when he spotted the five-pound black bear cub just off the Elkhorn trail.

“He looked dead. His eyes were grey, he was laying there on his back with his paws out,” Hancock says.

After waiting 10 minutes to see if a momma bear was around, Hancock scooped him up and drove to a Salem wildlife center, even stopping his car to give the bear small puffs of air like CPR.

“Every time I thought he was dead, he would just breath once a minute.”

ODFW has now taken over care of Elkhorn. State wildlife veterinarian Dr. Colin Gillin told KGW the cub was hypothermic, dehydrated and small for his age. After a night of fluids, and a warming blanket, Gillin says Elkhorn is doing well and quite vocal.