Appalachian Bear Rescue (ABR) is a black bear rescue facility located just outside of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Townsend, Tennessee. ABR is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization that has been returning black bears back to the wild since 1996. Each year black bears from our national parks and surrounding areas are orphaned, injured, or in need of medical care. Thanks to Appalachian Bear Rescue, these bears are given a second chance at life in the wild.
Thank you for helping our cubs help our neighbors in Western North Carolina. Linville-Central Rescue Squad and Appalachian Wildlife Refuge are finalists in the 2024 Defender Service Awards contest. Both of these organizations became finalists before Hurricane Helene hit their state. They need our votes now, but their focus right now is on helping their communities. Voting continues through October 17th. Winners in each category will receive a Land Rover Defender 130 and $25,000 in cash.
Appalachian Bear Rescue won in 2022. Our Defender has transported lots of cubs to and from rescue sites and the UTCVM-University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. Our vehicle is also a tremendous help with advertising our mission. It's a rolling billboard for our mission with bears.
VOTE once in each category each day through October 17th. While you are on the Defender Service Awards page, check out the incredible work of all the non-profit organization finalists. These folks do great work out in our US and Canadian communities.
Help us show Linville-Central Rescue Squad and Appalachian Wildlife Refuge some Cubby Love and Support! Please vote for each of them every day through October 17th. There's never been a more important time for them to win a Land Rover Defender and $25,000 for their missions.
Though our population of 26 eight-month-old black bear cubs hasn’t increased in number, the little bears have grown in height, girth, and portliness.We can say with confidence we have more cubs today than we did yesterday. They’re growing thick on a menu of acorns, peanuts, chestnuts, pears, apples, muscadine grapes, and (when it’s not raining) Mazouri Bear Diet Pellets. Eating is their primary job and they will receive a glowing report at their next performance review.
The cubs in WE#1 have made the impromptu ramp their own, though they have an easier time ascending than descending.It takes energy to keep all that chonk from sliding down the ramp and the cubs dig in their paws and s-l-o-w-l-y drag their caboose down the ramp. Meanwhile, the rest of the crowd is keeping busy, wrecking whatever’s not wrecked yet, and enjoying their cubbyhood.
Help us show Linville-Central Rescue Squad and Appalachian Wildlife Refuge some Cubby Love and Support! Please vote for each of them every day through October 17th. There's never been a more important time for them to win a Land Rover Defender and $25,000 for their missions.
Here are two direct links to vote for our Western North Carolina neighbors, Linville-Central Rescue Squad in the Search, Rescue & Emergency Support Services category and Appalachian Wildlife Refuge in the Defender Service Honorees category. You can vote once daily in each category until October 17th. Help us help our neighbors win a Land Rover Defender 130 and $25,000 cash!
🗓️Our 2025 calendars are available for purchase at our online store along with other items unique to ABR. We’ sorry, but orders are restricted to the USA only. Please click on the link below. appalachian-bear-rescue.myshopify.com/
How will the hurricane affect the release of the cubs?
Do you have a date/estimate for their release
Great to see our cubbies all doing so well and rounding up! I think they will enjoy the cooler weather that is predicted for next week.
🙏🏻🐻♥️x26 plus curators and Ben
2024 Defender Service Awards Voting Day #4! Cubs Supporting Neighbors
Appalachian Bear Rescue won a Land Rover Defender 130 and $25,000 for the cubs in the 2022 Defender Service Awards contest. Our Defender has transported lots of cubs and is a fantastic rolling advertisement for the ABR mission!
This year, two of our Western North Carolina non-profit neighbors are finalists in the 2024 Defender Service Awards contest. Voting began on October 2nd - immediately after catastrophic flooding from Hurricane Helene. These two charities (and all the non-profit finalists) do fantastic work in their communities, but they are incredibly busy responding to emergencies and can't focus on getting out the VOTE.
Help us show Linville-Central Rescue Squad and Appalachian Wildlife Refuge some Cubby Love and Support! Please vote for each of them every day through October 17th. There's never been a more important time for them to win a Land Rover Defender and $25,000 for their missions.
Here are two direct links to vote for our Western North Carolina neighbors, Linville-Central Rescue Squad in the Search, Rescue & Emergency Support Services category and Appalachian Wildlife Refuge in the Defender Service Honorees category. You can vote once in each category until October 17th. Help us help our neighbors win a Land Rover Defender 130 and $25,000 cash!
FACEBOOK LIVE NOTE: We are working to go LIVE with a representative from Linville-Central Rescue Squad later today. We tried yesterday, but they are incredibly busy on search and rescue missions in Avery County, North Carolina. They didn't stop yesterday until dark. While they support their communities, let's help them win a new Defender 130 and $25,000 to support their fine work. ... See MoreSee Less
Finally, we found all five of the Enclosure 4 cubs in one camera frame! It's not every day that happens. They and all of our cubs are busy eating and gaining weight before winter denning season. Their coats are shiny and healthy. We think you will agree they are a fine looking bunch.
Greg and Dana hope to go LIVE with a member of the Linville-Central Rescue Squad later this afternoon. They are busy providing their important services to their Western North Carolina community. They are a finalist in the Land Rover Defender Service Awards contest this year and need your votes! Please vote every day for our North Carolina neighbors Linville-Central Rescue Squad and Appalachian Wildlife Refuge. Winning a Land Rover and $25,000 has never been more important for these fine non-profits.
2024 Defender Service Awards Voting Day #3! Let's Show Some Cubby Love and Support
Appalachian Bear Rescue won a Land Rover Defender 130 and $25,000 for the cubs in the 2022 Defender Service Awards contest. Our Defender has transported lots of cubs and is a fantastic rolling advertisement for the ABR mission!
This year, two of our Western North Carolina non-profit neighbors are finalists in the 2024 Defender Service Awards contest. Voting began on October 2nd - immediately after catastrophic flooding from Hurricane Helene. These two charities (and all the non-profit finalists) do fantastic work in their communities, but they are incredibly busy responding to emergencies and can't focus on getting out the VOTE.
Help us show Linville-Central Rescue Squad and Appalachian Wildlife Refuge some Cubby Love and Support! Please vote for each of them every day through October 17th. There's never been a more important time for them to win a Land Rover Defender and $25,000 for their missions.
Here are two direct links to vote for our Western North Carolina neighbors, Linville-Central Rescue Squad in the Search, Rescue & Emergency Support Services category and Appalachian Wildlife Refuge in the Defender Service Honorees category. You can vote once in each category until October 17th. Help us help our neighbors win a Land Rover Defender 130 and $25,000 cash!
The links posted today didn't work for me but no worries I used yesterday's links! Happy to provide any possible support to those rescuing people and trying to recover from the devastation of Helene.
We sound like a broken record. Day after day, our cubs eat and wrestle. With your generosity, we have plenty to feed them. Everyone is doing well and getting plumper by the day.
We are getting ready to welcome everyone to the Bearly 5K. Our team has pressure washed the Visitor Center decking, cleaned the cobwebs from the windows, and today they trimmed the shrubbery. Sunday is the last day to sign up for the Bearly 5K and guarantee your shirt size. We would love to see you at Trillium Cove at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 26th! If you can't make it to Townsend, you can walk or run in your neck of the woods and support your favorite little bears. Just email us a photo and we will include it in an event video that we post after the 5K event. Here's the link to sign up: appalachian-bear-rescue.myshopify.com/products/2024-bearly-5k-run-walk-participant-signup... See MoreSee Less
I think that the “new ramp” should be kept as a fun enrichment tool for the cubs.
Breakfast with wrestling is nice, food and excercise at the same time 🤩. They all look so healthy and beautiful ❤️
We arrived in Gatlinburg this afternoon! Brought 27 pounds of shelled walnuts with us and are going to stop at the apple orchard to get a bushel before we come to the ABR Store. Will let you know at the rescue when we carry them to the store so they can be picked up. Love our cubs so much!❤️
We realize that it was a bit confusing to navigate the Defender Service Awards voting webpage, so today there will be two direct links. One for Linville-Central Rescue Squad in the Search, Rescue & Emergency Support Services category and one for the Appalachian Wildlife Refuge in the Defender Service Honorees category. You can vote once in each category until October 17th. Help us help our neighbors win a Land Rover Defender 130 and $25,000 cash!
Did you know that the Appalachian Wildlife Refuge helps a variety of injured and orphaned wildlife such as bats, beavers, opossums, turtles, and even crows!! The ABR facility is no stranger to visiting crows, especially when there are extra grapes in a bear enclosure. 😋 A vote for them, is a vote for helping wildlife of all shapes and sizes in neighboring North Carolina.
We know it’s difficult to see pictures like the ones we shared in our post earlier today, but sometimes pictures can tell a better story, especially for those without a voice. We are so grateful to have a community of friends and supporters like you that are willing to look and listen, even when it’s hard. Thank you for being here. ❤
Two years ago Appalachian Bear Rescue participated in Land Rover’s annual Defender Service Awards Contest. Thanks to YOU, ABR had the most votes in the animal and wildlife category and won a brand new Land Rover Defender 130 and $25,000 cash to go towards helping our bear cubs. This year, two special neighboring nonprofits are in the running to win their very own Land Rovers and cash donations; Linville-Central Rescue Squad and Appalachian Wildlife Refuge. 🚁🐻
Both of these nonprofits are located in North Carolina and are extremely busy focusing on rebuilding their communities after Hurricane Helene’s destruction. Appalachian Bear Rescue would like to ask for your help once again to consider voting in this year’s event. Voting started TODAY, October 2nd, and will continue until October 17th. Linville-Central Rescue Squad is competing in the Search, Rescue & Emergency Support Services Category and Appalachian Wildlife Refuge is in the Defender Service Honorees Award Category.
Went to the link..did not see either of the organizations....??
I go to the site through the link but all I can find is the Animal Defender Award by Disney. I don't see anything listing either of the two organizations you recommended. Am I missing something?
October 6, 2024: VOTE for our neighbors!
Thank you for helping our cubs help our neighbors in Western North Carolina. Linville-Central Rescue Squad and Appalachian Wildlife Refuge are finalists in the 2024 Defender Service Awards contest. Both of these organizations became finalists before Hurricane Helene hit their state. They need our votes now, but their focus right now is on helping their communities. Voting continues through October 17th. Winners in each category will receive a Land Rover Defender 130 and $25,000 in cash.
Appalachian Bear Rescue won in 2022. Our Defender has transported lots of cubs to and from rescue sites and the UTCVM-University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. Our vehicle is also a tremendous help with advertising our mission. It's a rolling billboard for our mission with bears.
VOTE once in each category each day through October 17th. While you are on the Defender Service Awards page, check out the incredible work of all the non-profit organization finalists. These folks do great work out in our US and Canadian communities.
VOTE for Linville-Central Rescue Squad:
www.landroverusa.com/experiences/events-and-sponsorships/defender-service-awards/vote/search-and-...
VOTE for Appalachian Wildlife Refuge:
www.landroverusa.com/experiences/events-and-sponsorships/defender-service-awards/vote/honorees.html
THANK YOU for helping us help our neighbors! ... See MoreSee Less
22 CommentsComment on Facebook
Voted and will continue to follow and vote for these two, help is needed in these places
Thank you for reminding us to vote daily for two wonderful deserving agencies.
Thanks for the links. It makes voting much easier.
View more comments
Help us show Linville-Central Rescue Squad and Appalachian Wildlife Refuge some Cubby Love and Support! Please vote for each of them every day through October 17th. There's never been a more important time for them to win a Land Rover Defender and $25,000 for their missions.
VOTE FOR LINVILLE-CENTRAL RESCUE SQUAD HERE: www.landroverusa.com/experiences/events-and-sponsorships/defender-service-awards/vote/search-and-...
VOTE FOR APPALACHIAN WILDLIFE REFUGE HERE: www.landroverusa.com/experiences/events-and-sponsorships/defender-service-awards/vote/honorees.ht... ... See MoreSee Less
27 CommentsComment on Facebook
If the facility has no bears do you anticipate being able to work on enclosure 5 this winter?
Do you have any instructions for acorn gathering?
Hello everyone!
View more comments
ABR Daily Update-October 5, 2024-Thicker Cubs 🐻
Weather: 80F (27C) Humidity 59%, Sunny 🌞
Though our population of 26 eight-month-old black bear cubs hasn’t increased in number, the little bears have grown in height, girth, and portliness.We can say with confidence we have more cubs today than we did yesterday. They’re growing thick on a menu of acorns, peanuts, chestnuts, pears, apples, muscadine grapes, and (when it’s not raining) Mazouri Bear Diet Pellets. Eating is their primary job and they will receive a glowing report at their next performance review.
The cubs in WE#1 have made the impromptu ramp their own, though they have an easier time ascending than descending.It takes energy to keep all that chonk from sliding down the ramp and the cubs dig in their paws and s-l-o-w-l-y drag their caboose down the ramp. Meanwhile, the rest of the crowd is keeping busy, wrecking whatever’s not wrecked yet, and enjoying their cubbyhood.
Help us show Linville-Central Rescue Squad and Appalachian Wildlife Refuge some Cubby Love and Support! Please vote for each of them every day through October 17th. There's never been a more important time for them to win a Land Rover Defender and $25,000 for their missions.
Here are two direct links to vote for our Western North Carolina neighbors, Linville-Central Rescue Squad in the Search, Rescue & Emergency Support Services category and Appalachian Wildlife Refuge in the Defender Service Honorees category. You can vote once daily in each category until October 17th. Help us help our neighbors win a Land Rover Defender 130 and $25,000 cash!
VOTE FOR Linville-Central Rescue Squad HERE:
www.landroverusa.com/experiences/events-and-sponsorships/defender-service-awards/vote/search-and-...
VOTE FOR Appalachian Wildlife Refuge HERE:
www.landroverusa.com/experiences/events-and-sponsorships/defender-service-awards/vote/honorees.ht...
🗓️Our 2025 calendars are available for purchase at our online store along with other items unique to ABR. We’ sorry, but orders are restricted to the USA only. Please click on the link below.
appalachian-bear-rescue.myshopify.com/
❤️Please consider donating to Appalachian Bear Rescue’s Room in Your Heart Campaign.
appalachianbearrescue.org/room-in-your-heart-campaign/
🎉Our Visitor & Education Center at Trillium Cove is open! Please click on the link for more information:
appalachianbearrescue.org/contact-us/
🛑bearwise.org offers excellent information on what black bears are up to at this time of year and what to do if you hike or live in “Bear Country”.
*We post one update daily, seven days a week. ... See MoreSee Less
29 CommentsComment on Facebook
How will the hurricane affect the release of the cubs?
Do you have a date/estimate for their release
Great to see our cubbies all doing so well and rounding up! I think they will enjoy the cooler weather that is predicted for next week. 🙏🏻🐻♥️x26 plus curators and Ben
View more comments
2024 Defender Service Awards Voting Day #4!
Cubs Supporting Neighbors
Appalachian Bear Rescue won a Land Rover Defender 130 and $25,000 for the cubs in the 2022 Defender Service Awards contest. Our Defender has transported lots of cubs and is a fantastic rolling advertisement for the ABR mission!
This year, two of our Western North Carolina non-profit neighbors are finalists in the 2024 Defender Service Awards contest. Voting began on October 2nd - immediately after catastrophic flooding from Hurricane Helene. These two charities (and all the non-profit finalists) do fantastic work in their communities, but they are incredibly busy responding to emergencies and can't focus on getting out the VOTE.
Help us show Linville-Central Rescue Squad and Appalachian Wildlife Refuge some Cubby Love and Support! Please vote for each of them every day through October 17th. There's never been a more important time for them to win a Land Rover Defender and $25,000 for their missions.
Here are two direct links to vote for our Western North Carolina neighbors, Linville-Central Rescue Squad in the Search, Rescue & Emergency Support Services category and Appalachian Wildlife Refuge in the Defender Service Honorees category. You can vote once in each category until October 17th. Help us help our neighbors win a Land Rover Defender 130 and $25,000 cash!
VOTE FOR Linville-Central Rescue Squad HERE: www.landroverusa.com/experiences/events-and-sponsorships/defender-service-awards/vote/search-and-...
VOTE FOR Appalachian Wildlife Refuge HERE:
www.landroverusa.com/experiences/events-and-sponsorships/defender-service-awards/vote/honorees.html
FACEBOOK LIVE NOTE: We are working to go LIVE with a representative from Linville-Central Rescue Squad later today. We tried yesterday, but they are incredibly busy on search and rescue missions in Avery County, North Carolina. They didn't stop yesterday until dark. While they support their communities, let's help them win a new Defender 130 and $25,000 to support their fine work. ... See MoreSee Less
22 CommentsComment on Facebook
Thank you for this daily post! It makes it so easy to find where to vote! I vote for both every day and use this post for the links!
Voted!!! Hope I get a reminder everyday so I’ll vote!!!
Voted♥️🐻🐾
View more comments
October 4, 2024: The Elusive Enclosure 4 Set
Finally, we found all five of the Enclosure 4 cubs in one camera frame! It's not every day that happens. They and all of our cubs are busy eating and gaining weight before winter denning season. Their coats are shiny and healthy. We think you will agree they are a fine looking bunch.
Greg and Dana hope to go LIVE with a member of the Linville-Central Rescue Squad later this afternoon. They are busy providing their important services to their Western North Carolina community. They are a finalist in the Land Rover Defender Service Awards contest this year and need your votes! Please vote every day for our North Carolina neighbors Linville-Central Rescue Squad and Appalachian Wildlife Refuge. Winning a Land Rover and $25,000 has never been more important for these fine non-profits.
Please also remember to sign up for the 2024 ABR Bearly 5K Run/Walk. Guarantee your shirt size and sign up before Sunday at midnight! appalachian-bear-rescue.myshopify.com/products/2024-bearly-5k-run-walk-participant-signup ... See MoreSee Less
25 CommentsComment on Facebook
I just visited JoAnne at the store in Townsend. We left with at least one of everything, I think. 🐻❤️
Voted! Could you please post every day with links to vote so all the ABR followers will be reminded to vote?
Love those chunky bears!
View more comments
2024 Defender Service Awards Voting Day #3!
Let's Show Some Cubby Love and Support
Appalachian Bear Rescue won a Land Rover Defender 130 and $25,000 for the cubs in the 2022 Defender Service Awards contest. Our Defender has transported lots of cubs and is a fantastic rolling advertisement for the ABR mission!
This year, two of our Western North Carolina non-profit neighbors are finalists in the 2024 Defender Service Awards contest. Voting began on October 2nd - immediately after catastrophic flooding from Hurricane Helene. These two charities (and all the non-profit finalists) do fantastic work in their communities, but they are incredibly busy responding to emergencies and can't focus on getting out the VOTE.
Help us show Linville-Central Rescue Squad and Appalachian Wildlife Refuge some Cubby Love and Support! Please vote for each of them every day through October 17th. There's never been a more important time for them to win a Land Rover Defender and $25,000 for their missions.
Here are two direct links to vote for our Western North Carolina neighbors, Linville-Central Rescue Squad in the Search, Rescue & Emergency Support Services category and Appalachian Wildlife Refuge in the Defender Service Honorees category. You can vote once in each category until October 17th. Help us help our neighbors win a Land Rover Defender 130 and $25,000 cash!
VOTE FOR Linville-Central Rescue Squad HERE: www.landroverusa.com/experiences/events-and-sponsorships/defender-service-awards/vote/search-and-...
VOTE FOR Appalachian Wildlife Refuge HERE:
www.landroverusa.com/experiences/events-and-sponsorships/defender-service-awards/vote/honorees.html
FACEBOOK LIVE NOTE: We don't have a time yet, but we hope to go LIVE with Linville-Central Rescue Squad later this afternoon. Greg Grieco is a member of our local Team BUSAR Backcountry Search and Rescue team and has trained with members of Linville-Central Rescue Squad and knows them well. They are out doing their incredibly important rescue work in Avery County, North Carolina again today and hope to be available later. STAY TUNED! ... See MoreSee Less
40 CommentsComment on Facebook
The links posted today didn't work for me but no worries I used yesterday's links! Happy to provide any possible support to those rescuing people and trying to recover from the devastation of Helene.
Please remind us to vote daily.
These links do not work for me.
View more comments
October 3, 2024: Cubs Love To Eat
We sound like a broken record. Day after day, our cubs eat and wrestle. With your generosity, we have plenty to feed them. Everyone is doing well and getting plumper by the day.
We are getting ready to welcome everyone to the Bearly 5K. Our team has pressure washed the Visitor Center decking, cleaned the cobwebs from the windows, and today they trimmed the shrubbery. Sunday is the last day to sign up for the Bearly 5K and guarantee your shirt size. We would love to see you at Trillium Cove at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 26th! If you can't make it to Townsend, you can walk or run in your neck of the woods and support your favorite little bears. Just email us a photo and we will include it in an event video that we post after the 5K event. Here's the link to sign up: appalachian-bear-rescue.myshopify.com/products/2024-bearly-5k-run-walk-participant-signup ... See MoreSee Less
19 CommentsComment on Facebook
I think that the “new ramp” should be kept as a fun enrichment tool for the cubs.
Breakfast with wrestling is nice, food and excercise at the same time 🤩. They all look so healthy and beautiful ❤️
We arrived in Gatlinburg this afternoon! Brought 27 pounds of shelled walnuts with us and are going to stop at the apple orchard to get a bushel before we come to the ABR Store. Will let you know at the rescue when we carry them to the store so they can be picked up. Love our cubs so much!❤️
View more comments
2024 Defender Service Awards Voting Day #2!
We realize that it was a bit confusing to navigate the Defender Service Awards voting webpage, so today there will be two direct links. One for Linville-Central Rescue Squad in the Search, Rescue & Emergency Support Services category and one for the Appalachian Wildlife Refuge in the Defender Service Honorees category. You can vote once in each category until October 17th. Help us help our neighbors win a Land Rover Defender 130 and $25,000 cash!
Did you know that the Appalachian Wildlife Refuge helps a variety of injured and orphaned wildlife such as bats, beavers, opossums, turtles, and even crows!! The ABR facility is no stranger to visiting crows, especially when there are extra grapes in a bear enclosure. 😋 A vote for them, is a vote for helping wildlife of all shapes and sizes in neighboring North Carolina.
VOTE FOR Linville-Central Rescue Squad HERE: www.landroverusa.com/experiences/events-and-sponsorships/defender-service-awards/vote/search-and-...
VOTE FOR Appalachian Wildlife Refuge HERE: www.landroverusa.com/experiences/events-and-sponsorships/defender-service-awards/vote/honorees.html ... See MoreSee Less
46 CommentsComment on Facebook
Thank you for the links. That was much easier!
Thank you for the updated contact info. I’m sure our resident cubs have been up to their usual hyjinks today 🙏🏻🐻♥️x26 plus curators
Thank you for the link! Ever since ABR was awarded it's Land Rover, I realize how important votes count! I voted today!!
View more comments
We know it’s difficult to see pictures like the ones we shared in our post earlier today, but sometimes pictures can tell a better story, especially for those without a voice. We are so grateful to have a community of friends and supporters like you that are willing to look and listen, even when it’s hard. Thank you for being here. ❤
Two years ago Appalachian Bear Rescue participated in Land Rover’s annual Defender Service Awards Contest. Thanks to YOU, ABR had the most votes in the animal and wildlife category and won a brand new Land Rover Defender 130 and $25,000 cash to go towards helping our bear cubs. This year, two special neighboring nonprofits are in the running to win their very own Land Rovers and cash donations; Linville-Central Rescue Squad and Appalachian Wildlife Refuge. 🚁🐻
Both of these nonprofits are located in North Carolina and are extremely busy focusing on rebuilding their communities after Hurricane Helene’s destruction. Appalachian Bear Rescue would like to ask for your help once again to consider voting in this year’s event. Voting started TODAY, October 2nd, and will continue until October 17th. Linville-Central Rescue Squad is competing in the Search, Rescue & Emergency Support Services Category and Appalachian Wildlife Refuge is in the Defender Service Honorees Award Category.
You can vote for them everyday at the link below, as well as read more about all of the other amazing charitable organizations that are also in the running for this life-changing award. Thank you for your votes. www.landroverusa.com/experiences/events-and-sponsorships/defender-service-awards/index.html ... See MoreSee Less
39 CommentsComment on Facebook
Went to the link..did not see either of the organizations....??
I go to the site through the link but all I can find is the Animal Defender Award by Disney. I don't see anything listing either of the two organizations you recommended. Am I missing something?
View more comments