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.
March 25, 2025: New Pool in Enclosure 2 The ABR team removed the old pool in Enclosure 2 and added the new pool today. The old pools are too large to take them out of the enclosure in one piece. In fact, we have to put the new pool over the fence to get it inside.
We got a big surprise when we made a trip to the Blount County landfill today. Boating season is upon us. We just didn't expect to find a bear in a boat at the landfill!
I have been following and supporting your rescue for years and I have a question. Is there anywhere that is taking in cubs in need while you are doing all this work? I know that in the past you have had quite a few cubs by now.
Not trying to stir up anything, just concerned about our baby bears. Thanks for all that you do for them.
Thank you all for all the hard work you are doing to ensure our cub class of 2025 will be happy and safe 🥰
Absolutely amazing. Your dedication is wonderful. ABR thank you for all you do 💜 🐻
ABR Daily Update-March 24, 2025- Work Continues 🔨🛠️
Weather: 64F(18C) Humidity 34%, Cloudy ☁️
Curator Tom extends his gratitude to our many friends who sent him birthday greetings yesterday. He read every comment and was deeply touched. We hope he realizes how much people value him and how important he is to ABR.😊
Yesterday was also World Bear Day, and ABR was delighted to be invited to participate at Zoo Knoxville. This year's focus was on a bear's acute sense of smell and how the public can be "BearWise" to minimize bear-human conflict. Our volunteers had a great time answering questions and noted that our preserved bear poop samples were the most popular exhibits among human yearlings.🤔
The curators continued to work on the enclosures today, aiming to complete most of the chores so they can begin distributing grass seed. We need the ground cover to slow soil erosion, as we are located on hilly terrain, and to provide future cub residents with a natural carpet under their paws. You may recall that we tried laying sod last season, but the cubs rolled it up as if it were a rug.🐻
Today, we are offering a fourteen-minute video from 2017, featuring Otto, Rollo, and Apollo Bear, also known as "The Cheery-O's." It’s a brief record of their stay at ABR and their successful return to the wild. Injured and orphaned cubs and yearlings depend on us for a second chance at life in the wild, and we depend on your generosity to provide it. Thank you for your unwavering support.🐻🐻🐻❤️ Please click on the link below. youtu.be/PZjtlUwYi8w?si=UirzDznfgqKQatYn
The ABR team has done so much great improvement work to the facilities. Is there an upcoming inspection date with the appropriate agencies? Also, if there is an abandoned bear cub near the facility prior to a clearance, what happens?
Have the test results come back from the December bears?
All y'all have really been sprucing things up for little bears to come. Thank you for being there so they can have a second chance. <3
ABR Daily Update-March 23, 2025-Happy Birthday, Curator Tom! 🎂
Weather 79F (26C) Humidity 23%, Partly cloudy 🌤️
Tom Faulkner is one of the key individuals responsible for the creation of Appalachian Bear Rescue. From its inception in 1989 to the admission of our first bear in 1996, Tom has been instrumental in the creation and success of our facility and our mission. He has served in many capacities, from founder to board member to curator. If there is anything he can't do, we don't know what it is. Happy birthday, Curator Tom!🎉😊
We’ve mentioned Marvin Bear many times over the years. He arrived at ABR on April 25, 2015, weighing 5.7 pounds (2.59 kg) and was released on November 9, 2015, weighing 97 pounds (44 kg). Marvin had enough quirks for a dozen cubs. He had a deep and abiding love for grapes, and at one point, refused to eat anything else, causing what is scientifically termed "finicky cub stress syndrome”( FCSS) in our curators. Although bear cubs are usually quiet to avoid attracting predators, Marvin showed us how loud a cub can be when protecting something dear to him – in his case, grapes. Marvin would be about ten years old now; we hope he’s had a good life since leaving ABR and has fathered many little quirky Marvins and Marvinas. Please click on the link below.🐻🍇 youtu.be/LbcNn5AwEv4?si=u9Ba4K16y2Pmdb9D
Our curators are currently replacing the plumbing in Enclosures #1 and #2, which supplies the new cubby pools. The pipes will be buried, and the nozzles feeding water into the pools will not be as easily accessible to future residents. However, we are well aware that cubs have paws built for digging and a curiosity as strong as their muscles, so we aren’t betting against them.
We can’t recall how many of our former residents thought they had a gift for plumbing. None of them did, though. However, a lack of talent has never stopped anyone from pursuing a career, and we issue a warning not to hire any ABR alumnus claiming to be a qualified plumber, electrician, camera technician, or drywall installer. Do not let them in!
Today marks Cubby Birthday, an occasion we celebrate every month. ABR has designated January 22 as the "official" birthdate for all bears who arrive here, as it falls roughly midway in the range of possible birthdates. Happy two-month birthday to the Class of 2025, and happy birthday to all our former residents and to bears everywhere! While we celebrate Cubby Birthday, we also remember those who didn’t make it; we hold their memory close to our hearts. Thank you for helping us help them.🐻🎂
Here is a link to a video we post annually. It is an excerpt from a BBC special showing a mother bear and her two cubs leaving their tree den. Both cubs in the video survive their descent, but it highlights how vulnerable young cubs are and why many do not live to become yearlings. Although the video was filmed in Alaska, our local bear population also loves to den in trees. In a few weeks, this scene will be played out all over Tennessee as a new generation of bears emerges to greet the world for the first time. We wish them luck.❤️
Six years ago, on March 21st 2019, Appalachian Bear Rescue took in a malnourished female yearling from Blount County, Tennessee. Nicknamed “Sweetie Bear”, this yearling was the 285th black bear to pass through ABR’s facility gates. She was approximately 14 months old at the time but weighed just 9.79 pounds. Sweetie was captured by the Townsend Chief of Police and taken immediately to UTCVM for an intake exam. Veterinarians placed her on a controlled diet to avoid refeeding syndrome, a life-threatening complication that can occur when starving individuals are given too much food, too fast.
By April 12th, she was released into wild enclosure 3 where she joined Hartley Bear. Hartley (whose story we covered on Valentine’s Day) was a little too sweet on Sweetie Bear (pun intended). In the end though, Sweetie enjoyed his presence and after Hartley was released back into the wild, she found new kinship with two more yearling bears; Daffodil and Iris. On August 26th 2019, Sweetie Bear was returned to the wild. Her teeth and fur were in excellent condition and she weighed 64 pounds. In a little over five months, Sweetie had gained 54 pounds and was in much better physical condition to begin hyperphagia in the wild. Sweetie shot out of her transport crate like a rocket, and she never looked back. 🐻❤ We hope that Sweetie Bear is still thriving. ... See MoreSee Less
March 20, 2025: We Have Platforms The ABR Team has been hard at work rebuilding the climbing/resting platforms in Enclosures 1 and 2. It's been a big process, and the team has worked as quickly (and safely) to get the structures ready for cubs.
We set the new big posts (Thank you for the Menards Gift Cards), attached all the "rails" (Thank you for the Home Depot Gift Cards), and now, we've added the cypress planks. Back in 2013, we got the first cypress planks from the Amish community in Middle Tennessee. The Amish make lots of things from cypress, including bee hives. Cypress trees grow in swampy areas and the wood is very resistant to rot. The planks from 2013 are still in use in Acclimation Pen 1! We are hoping for cypress longevity for the platform planks. Other wood varieties usually rot and must be replaced in 12-18 months. We will continue to treat the planks with heat to disinfect, but hopefully, we can go longer between replacements.
You all have worked so very, very hard. I hope TWRA will allow cubbies to return to you. ABR you all are so amazing and have helped so many cubbies and yearlings return to the wild..Thank you so very much. Your mission is so important. I will continue to support you!! 💜🐻
We all appreciate all the hard work you are doing for our cub class of 2025 it's because of people like you that our bears will be safe and happy and get a chance to be wild bears 🐻
It was very interesting to see everyone at work, gives us an idea of how much they have had to do and how hard they have worked to achieve what they have. I was very impressed with how Seth secured the planks! 😁
ABR Daily Update - March 19, 2025 - A New Pool for Wild Enclosure 2
Weather: 75F (24C) Humidity 19%, Partly Cloudy ⛅️
Today our curators installed a new cubby pool in wild enclosure 2. With the generous help of your Tractor Supply gift cards, ABR was able to purchase two of the five stock tanks that we will need for our planned renovations. If the weather cooperates, curators will be installing wild enclosure 1’s pool tomorrow.
Did you know that wild enclosure 2’s pool used to be a concrete pond? Past ABR curators learned that keeping the pond free of leaves and debris was even more of a challenge than it is today!
The ABR Recovery Center is the oldest permanent structure at the bear facility. It was constructed in 1996, primarily by Americorps volunteers and ABR volunteers. It was built as a storage building that might also be used to house very small or injured cubs.
If buildings could talk, the ABR Recovery Center would have plenty of stories to tell...the escape of Houdini Bear, a long night for Deacon Bear, years of storing ABR "stuff", and multiple renovations that turned it into a facility used primarily for injured young bears. We hope you enjoy this video introduction to a building that has become a very important part of our ABR mission. ... See MoreSee Less
Thank you so much for this very informative video on the evolution of the Recovery Center since 1996! I love how the bears kept you on your toes with their abilities to challenge you, thus creating even better solutions. Bears are good at their own versions of “problem solving” 😂. So much blood, sweat and tears has gone into this facility since 1996, with so many precious bear lives being saved through your hard work, dedication, and belief for the cause. People drive here from miles away just hoping for a glimpse of one of our black bear ambassadors, who are the “call of the mountains”. I pray that many more of our precious bears will be saved by ABR for many more years to come!
🙏🏻♥️ All ABR staff and supporters
🙏🏻🐻♥️ All amazing wild bears everywhere
Thanks for the history of the ABR Recovery Center. After seeing it in person on the tour and now knowing the history of how it came to be sure makes us appreciate all the people involved in building and modifying of this great building. I’m sure curators past and present have plenty of stories they could tell. I believe I seen a younger Curator Greg in this video!!! ♥️🐻
It's amazing to see what we've learned and how far we've come! I remember this entire venture. ❤😲❤
ABR Daily Update-March 17, 2025 ☘️- A Letter from Barkstall Elementary School 🐻
Weather: 50F (10C) Humidity 48%, Mostly cloudy 🌥️
Receiving a message from Ms. Prescott and her Grade 5 students is always a source of joy for everyone at ABR, one we want to share with you. We’re grateful to them for their kindness and support. ❤️👏
Dear ABR Family,
We are excited to share that we raised $304.81 during our "Have a Heart and Save a Black Bear Cub" fundraiser on Valentine's Day. This brings our total amount raised so far to $681.81. In addition, we have collected 25 gallons of can tabs. As you can see, we are very close to our end of the year goal of $800.00. We will continue to work hard to reach our goal and of course collect can tabs. We would like to thank our ABR family for sending us can tabs from all over the United States including, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, California, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Kentucky, and of course Illinois! We hope you enjoy these pictures of our students fundraising for ABR and the posters they made to put up in the hallways around our school.
We appreciate it and plan to reach our goal by the end of May.
Thank you all BEARY much for your support!🐻❤️
Ms. Prescott's 5th Grade Class Barkstall Elementary School 2201 Hallbeck Drive Champaign, IL 61822
In 2017, while former ABR curator Coy Blair was conducting a GPS collar study focused on our released former residents, Jessica Giacomini, a then University of Tennessee graduate student, was also conducting a GPS collar study, but hers centered on adult bears. Please click the link below to view the original post and pictures from St. Patrick’s Day, 2017. The cubs in the photos depict what black bear cubs in the wild look like around this time: their eyes are open, but they remain entirely dependent on their mother for survival. www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1518914394787814&type=3
Not trying to be a jerk, but what does collecting can tabs actually do? I grew up with the pull tabs that broke off and made me speak naughty words at my Coke.
I must have missed what the can tabs are for, what do you do with them?
DONATE TODAY!!
March 25, 2025: New Pool in Enclosure 2
The ABR team removed the old pool in Enclosure 2 and added the new pool today. The old pools are too large to take them out of the enclosure in one piece. In fact, we have to put the new pool over the fence to get it inside.
We got a big surprise when we made a trip to the Blount County landfill today. Boating season is upon us. We just didn't expect to find a bear in a boat at the landfill!
Thank you for helping us as we renovate our bear facility. We couldn't do our work without you.
appalachianbearrescue.org/2024-bear-necessities-campaign/ ... See MoreSee Less
15 CommentsComment on Facebook
I have been following and supporting your rescue for years and I have a question. Is there anywhere that is taking in cubs in need while you are doing all this work? I know that in the past you have had quite a few cubs by now. Not trying to stir up anything, just concerned about our baby bears. Thanks for all that you do for them.
Thank you all for all the hard work you are doing to ensure our cub class of 2025 will be happy and safe 🥰
Absolutely amazing. Your dedication is wonderful. ABR thank you for all you do 💜 🐻
View more comments
ABR Daily Update-March 24, 2025- Work Continues 🔨🛠️
Weather: 64F(18C) Humidity 34%, Cloudy ☁️
Curator Tom extends his gratitude to our many friends who sent him birthday greetings yesterday. He read every comment and was deeply touched. We hope he realizes how much people value him and how important he is to ABR.😊
Yesterday was also World Bear Day, and ABR was delighted to be invited to participate at Zoo Knoxville. This year's focus was on a bear's acute sense of smell and how the public can be "BearWise" to minimize bear-human conflict. Our volunteers had a great time answering questions and noted that our preserved bear poop samples were the most popular exhibits among human yearlings.🤔
The curators continued to work on the enclosures today, aiming to complete most of the chores so they can begin distributing grass seed. We need the ground cover to slow soil erosion, as we are located on hilly terrain, and to provide future cub residents with a natural carpet under their paws. You may recall that we tried laying sod last season, but the cubs rolled it up as if it were a rug.🐻
Today, we are offering a fourteen-minute video from 2017, featuring Otto, Rollo, and Apollo Bear, also known as "The Cheery-O's." It’s a brief record of their stay at ABR and their successful return to the wild. Injured and orphaned cubs and yearlings depend on us for a second chance at life in the wild, and we depend on your generosity to provide it. Thank you for your unwavering support.🐻🐻🐻❤️ Please click on the link below.
youtu.be/PZjtlUwYi8w?si=UirzDznfgqKQatYn
🎉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
24 CommentsComment on Facebook
The ABR team has done so much great improvement work to the facilities. Is there an upcoming inspection date with the appropriate agencies? Also, if there is an abandoned bear cub near the facility prior to a clearance, what happens?
Have the test results come back from the December bears?
All y'all have really been sprucing things up for little bears to come. Thank you for being there so they can have a second chance. <3
View more comments
ABR Daily Update-March 23, 2025-Happy Birthday, Curator Tom! 🎂
Weather 79F (26C) Humidity 23%, Partly cloudy 🌤️
Tom Faulkner is one of the key individuals responsible for the creation of Appalachian Bear Rescue. From its inception in 1989 to the admission of our first bear in 1996, Tom has been instrumental in the creation and success of our facility and our mission. He has served in many capacities, from founder to board member to curator. If there is anything he can't do, we don't know what it is. Happy birthday, Curator Tom!🎉😊
We’ve mentioned Marvin Bear many times over the years. He arrived at ABR on April 25, 2015, weighing 5.7 pounds (2.59 kg) and was released on November 9, 2015, weighing 97 pounds (44 kg). Marvin had enough quirks for a dozen cubs. He had a deep and abiding love for grapes, and at one point, refused to eat anything else, causing what is scientifically termed "finicky cub stress syndrome”( FCSS) in our curators. Although bear cubs are usually quiet to avoid attracting predators, Marvin showed us how loud a cub can be when protecting something dear to him – in his case, grapes. Marvin would be about ten years old now; we hope he’s had a good life since leaving ABR and has fathered many little quirky Marvins and Marvinas. Please click on the link below.🐻🍇
youtu.be/LbcNn5AwEv4?si=u9Ba4K16y2Pmdb9D
🎉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
143 CommentsComment on Facebook
Happy Birthday Tom! But we need a pic of Tom in his costume from the Mardi Gras night!
Happy Birthday Mr. Tom Faulkner! Thank you so much for what you do for bears!
Happy Birthday Tom!!!
View more comments
ABR Daily Update-March 22, 2025-Plumbing 🐻🚰
Weather: 70F (21C) Humidity 24%, Sunny 🌞
Our curators are currently replacing the plumbing in Enclosures #1 and #2, which supplies the new cubby pools. The pipes will be buried, and the nozzles feeding water into the pools will not be as easily accessible to future residents. However, we are well aware that cubs have paws built for digging and a curiosity as strong as their muscles, so we aren’t betting against them.
We can’t recall how many of our former residents thought they had a gift for plumbing. None of them did, though. However, a lack of talent has never stopped anyone from pursuing a career, and we issue a warning not to hire any ABR alumnus claiming to be a qualified plumber, electrician, camera technician, or drywall installer. Do not let them in!
Today marks Cubby Birthday, an occasion we celebrate every month. ABR has designated January 22 as the "official" birthdate for all bears who arrive here, as it falls roughly midway in the range of possible birthdates. Happy two-month birthday to the Class of 2025, and happy birthday to all our former residents and to bears everywhere! While we celebrate Cubby Birthday, we also remember those who didn’t make it; we hold their memory close to our hearts. Thank you for helping us help them.🐻🎂
Here is a link to a video we post annually. It is an excerpt from a BBC special showing a mother bear and her two cubs leaving their tree den. Both cubs in the video survive their descent, but it highlights how vulnerable young cubs are and why many do not live to become yearlings. Although the video was filmed in Alaska, our local bear population also loves to den in trees. In a few weeks, this scene will be played out all over Tennessee as a new generation of bears emerges to greet the world for the first time. We wish them luck.❤️
youtu.be/1bAd0UZh9rU?si=b2djBeMYBUaEbMLf
🎉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
26 CommentsComment on Facebook
Clever bears will find a way to "help".
Happy Birthday to all bears everywhere, big and small. Also remembering cubbies who are no longer with us. 💖💖💖
All beats remembered and honored, so sweet.
View more comments
ON THIS DAY IN ABR HISTORY – 03/21/2025
Six years ago, on March 21st 2019, Appalachian Bear Rescue took in a malnourished female yearling from Blount County, Tennessee. Nicknamed “Sweetie Bear”, this yearling was the 285th black bear to pass through ABR’s facility gates. She was approximately 14 months old at the time but weighed just 9.79 pounds. Sweetie was captured by the Townsend Chief of Police and taken immediately to UTCVM for an intake exam. Veterinarians placed her on a controlled diet to avoid refeeding syndrome, a life-threatening complication that can occur when starving individuals are given too much food, too fast.
By April 12th, she was released into wild enclosure 3 where she joined Hartley Bear. Hartley (whose story we covered on Valentine’s Day) was a little too sweet on Sweetie Bear (pun intended). In the end though, Sweetie enjoyed his presence and after Hartley was released back into the wild, she found new kinship with two more yearling bears; Daffodil and Iris. On August 26th 2019, Sweetie Bear was returned to the wild. Her teeth and fur were in excellent condition and she weighed 64 pounds. In a little over five months, Sweetie had gained 54 pounds and was in much better physical condition to begin hyperphagia in the wild. Sweetie shot out of her transport crate like a rocket, and she never looked back. 🐻❤
We hope that Sweetie Bear is still thriving. ... See MoreSee Less
31 CommentsComment on Facebook
Have you had no cubbies yet this year or are you unable to accept them at this time?
Was it Sweetie, Daffodil or Iris that Curator Janet had to hold the bowl up to her mouth to get her to eat? Scary with a yearling!
I hope Sweetie Bear is curled up in a cosy den somewhere, far away from humans and maybe with a few little cubs. 💖💖💖
View more comments
March 20, 2025: We Have Platforms
The ABR Team has been hard at work rebuilding the climbing/resting platforms in Enclosures 1 and 2. It's been a big process, and the team has worked as quickly (and safely) to get the structures ready for cubs.
We set the new big posts (Thank you for the Menards Gift Cards), attached all the "rails" (Thank you for the Home Depot Gift Cards), and now, we've added the cypress planks. Back in 2013, we got the first cypress planks from the Amish community in Middle Tennessee. The Amish make lots of things from cypress, including bee hives. Cypress trees grow in swampy areas and the wood is very resistant to rot. The planks from 2013 are still in use in Acclimation Pen 1! We are hoping for cypress longevity for the platform planks. Other wood varieties usually rot and must be replaced in 12-18 months. We will continue to treat the planks with heat to disinfect, but hopefully, we can go longer between replacements.
Thank you for your generous support as we renovate our bear facility. We couldn't do our work without you!
appalachianbearrescue.org/2024-bear-necessities-campaign/ ... See MoreSee Less
16 CommentsComment on Facebook
You all have worked so very, very hard. I hope TWRA will allow cubbies to return to you. ABR you all are so amazing and have helped so many cubbies and yearlings return to the wild..Thank you so very much. Your mission is so important. I will continue to support you!! 💜🐻
We all appreciate all the hard work you are doing for our cub class of 2025 it's because of people like you that our bears will be safe and happy and get a chance to be wild bears 🐻
It was very interesting to see everyone at work, gives us an idea of how much they have had to do and how hard they have worked to achieve what they have. I was very impressed with how Seth secured the planks! 😁
View more comments
ABR Daily Update - March 19, 2025 - A New Pool for Wild Enclosure 2
Weather: 75F (24C) Humidity 19%, Partly Cloudy ⛅️
Today our curators installed a new cubby pool in wild enclosure 2. With the generous help of your Tractor Supply gift cards, ABR was able to purchase two of the five stock tanks that we will need for our planned renovations. If the weather cooperates, curators will be installing wild enclosure 1’s pool tomorrow.
Did you know that wild enclosure 2’s pool used to be a concrete pond? Past ABR curators learned that keeping the pond free of leaves and debris was even more of a challenge than it is today!
If you would like to help us purchase the three additional stock tanks that we will need for the bear facility, you can send us a TSC e-gift card by visiting this link: www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/egift-card?cm_sp=Espot-_-Gift+Card+LP-_-eGift+Card&fbclid=IwY2x...
Please send the gift card to dana.dodd@appalachianbearrescue.org. We couldn’t do all of this without you. Thank you. 😊 ... See MoreSee Less
22 CommentsComment on Facebook
Sorry if you’ve already said this, but when is your meeting with TWRA?
For the Gift Card, what do we put for "Recipients Name" Dana Dodd and Appalachian Bear Rescue did not work.🤔
Wonderful job everyone. My question is will the new cubby tubs make as good cubby broth as the old ones did 😂 🙏🏻♥️ All ABR staff and supporters
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March 18, 2025: The ABR Recovery Center
The ABR Recovery Center is the oldest permanent structure at the bear facility. It was constructed in 1996, primarily by Americorps volunteers and ABR volunteers. It was built as a storage building that might also be used to house very small or injured cubs.
If buildings could talk, the ABR Recovery Center would have plenty of stories to tell...the escape of Houdini Bear, a long night for Deacon Bear, years of storing ABR "stuff", and multiple renovations that turned it into a facility used primarily for injured young bears. We hope you enjoy this video introduction to a building that has become a very important part of our ABR mission. ... See MoreSee Less
16 CommentsComment on Facebook
Thank you so much for this very informative video on the evolution of the Recovery Center since 1996! I love how the bears kept you on your toes with their abilities to challenge you, thus creating even better solutions. Bears are good at their own versions of “problem solving” 😂. So much blood, sweat and tears has gone into this facility since 1996, with so many precious bear lives being saved through your hard work, dedication, and belief for the cause. People drive here from miles away just hoping for a glimpse of one of our black bear ambassadors, who are the “call of the mountains”. I pray that many more of our precious bears will be saved by ABR for many more years to come! 🙏🏻♥️ All ABR staff and supporters 🙏🏻🐻♥️ All amazing wild bears everywhere
Thanks for the history of the ABR Recovery Center. After seeing it in person on the tour and now knowing the history of how it came to be sure makes us appreciate all the people involved in building and modifying of this great building. I’m sure curators past and present have plenty of stories they could tell. I believe I seen a younger Curator Greg in this video!!! ♥️🐻
It's amazing to see what we've learned and how far we've come! I remember this entire venture. ❤😲❤
View more comments
ABR Daily Update-March 17, 2025 ☘️- A Letter from Barkstall Elementary School 🐻
Weather: 50F (10C) Humidity 48%, Mostly cloudy 🌥️
Receiving a message from Ms. Prescott and her Grade 5 students is always a source of joy for everyone at ABR, one we want to share with you. We’re grateful to them for their kindness and support. ❤️👏
Dear ABR Family,
We are excited to share that we raised $304.81 during our "Have a Heart and Save a Black Bear Cub" fundraiser on Valentine's Day. This brings our total amount raised so far to $681.81. In addition, we have collected 25 gallons of can tabs. As you can see, we are very close to our end of the year goal of $800.00. We will continue to work hard to reach our goal and of course collect can tabs. We would like to thank our ABR family for sending us can tabs from all over the United States including, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, California, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Kentucky, and of course Illinois! We hope you enjoy these pictures of our students fundraising for ABR and the posters they made to put up in the hallways around our school.
We appreciate it and plan to reach our goal by the end of May.
Thank you all BEARY much for your support!🐻❤️
Ms. Prescott's 5th Grade Class
Barkstall Elementary School
2201 Hallbeck Drive
Champaign, IL 61822
In 2017, while former ABR curator Coy Blair was conducting a GPS collar study focused on our released former residents, Jessica Giacomini, a then University of Tennessee graduate student, was also conducting a GPS collar study, but hers centered on adult bears. Please click the link below to view the original post and pictures from St. Patrick’s Day, 2017. The cubs in the photos depict what black bear cubs in the wild look like around this time: their eyes are open, but they remain entirely dependent on their mother for survival.
www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1518914394787814&type=3
🎉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
46 CommentsComment on Facebook
Not trying to be a jerk, but what does collecting can tabs actually do? I grew up with the pull tabs that broke off and made me speak naughty words at my Coke.
I must have missed what the can tabs are for, what do you do with them?
Can we send in more can tops?
View more comments