A bear found in a dumpster, hairless and in desperate need of medical attention, is virtually unrecognizable seven years on.

When Eve was found "dumpster diving" in Northern California on Christmas Eve in 2017, she was in a distressing condition. Weighing just 30 pounds, Eve was completely hairless and suffering from the worst case of mange the experts who examined her said they had ever seen.

Sue Tygielski, senior director of Black Beauty Ranch, which is part of the Humane Society of the United States, and where Eve now lives, told Newsweek: "When Eve was found searching through trash, tiny and hairless, she looked nothing like a bear."

Quite how Eve ended up in the trash in such an alarming state of health, is unclear. "We will never know if Eve was orphaned because her mom had been killed or if Eve was lost," Tygielski said. "She was clearly very ill and likely followed her nose to the dumpster."

It's not uncommon for bears to explore unsecured trash. This won't be the first time and certainly not the last. "As human communities expand and more people live in and around bear habitats, encounters between bears and people will increase," Tygielski said. "Bears are attracted to unsecured trash cans, dumpsters and even bird feeders."

What makes Eve's story extraordinary is what came next. After being rescued by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and moved to a wildlife rehabilitation center, Eve, who had been nicknamed the "bare bear' underwent two years of rehabilitation at a wildlife center in California.

She was then moved to a permanent home at Black Beauty Ranch, one of America's largest and most diverse animal sanctuaries, located in Texas. The 1,400-acre sanctuary provides a permanent haven to over 600 domestic and exotic animals rescued from research laboratories, circuses, the pet trade, roadside zoos and other circumstances of neglect and cruelty.

In the years since, Eve has undergone an amazing transformation. She now weighs 160 pounds, while the extremely timid bear that first arrived has become sassy, adventurous and friendly.

Eve is one of four bears living at the sanctuary and is often found hanging around the edge of her habitat to try to get a look at Sammi, a retired circus bear, and mother-son bear duo Jackie and Russell in their nearby habitats.

One of her favorite daily routines has become sniffing, exploring and searching for food that her caregivers scatter throughout the forest floor and on tree branches, enjoying the freedom to act like a wild bear.

"Eve took several years to grow into a healthy bear, but still receives daily medications for some health issues," Tygielski said.

Though her lack of wild survival skills, affinity for dumpster diving and ongoing health conditions prevent her from being released into the wild, Black Beauty Ranch provides her with the beautiful natural habitat and continued health care she needs to thrive.

Tygielski said: "The story of this incredibly resilient, strong, determined bear is remarkable. She has been through so much and has come into her own, expressing her natural wild behaviors, exploring, climbing high in the trees, splashing in her pool and lounging in a nest she created at the base of her favorite tree. She is thriving and living the life she deserves, just getting to be a bear."