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.
ABR Daily Update #2 - January 23, 2025 - Graduation Day for Scruffy, Rags and Phoenix Bear! 🥳🐻🐻🐻🎓
Siblings Scruffy and Rags were also released back to the wild today. However, Scruffy had his own idea of "release" day and ABR curators and wildlife officials let him depart on his own time. Curator Seth was able to still get a short video of him on his way. ❤ Thank you so much for giving them a second chance. ... See MoreSee Less
I know I should be happy that they are back in the wild where they should be. But release day always brings tears to my eyes. I hope they all have a wonderful life! I'm going to miss them!
Awww, little Scruffy wasn't sure he was ready to go just yet. Rags said watch this! Run wild and free, boys. What will we do with our time until we're able to get more babies to love??❤🐻
What a bittersweet moment. My husband and I adopted Scruffy and Rags in November and have watched their progress every day. They were brought to ABR 3 days after we visited Townsend on our vacation. We visited ABR at Trillium while we were there and we fell in love with the organization. The bears were located on Hwy 321 which we had traveled on at least a dozen times in the week we were there. We were so thankful to not have been the cause of their mother's death. What a blessing everyone at ABR has been for them. It will be hard to not see them on a daily basis but we know they are where they belong - back in the beautiful Smoky Mountains. They will always be a wonderful memory of our trip to Tennessee. Run happy little guys! ❤❤🐻🐻
ABR Daily Update - January 23, 2025 - Graduation Day for Scruffy, Rags and Phoenix Bear! 🥳🐻🐻🐻🎓
Today our mission with Scruffy, Rags and Phoenix Bear came to an end. We cannot thank you enough for helping us give them a second chance. ❤ We will post a release video for Scruffy and Rags shortly. ... See MoreSee Less
Bittersweet day! I'm happy for little Phoenix, but sad at the same time. I'm going to miss him, but I know he has the instinct to survive after what he's been through! Run wild and free little Phoenix!❤🐻
Crying like a baby but happy they are going home ❤️❤️
January 21, 2025: Three's Company Whether by invitation or party crash, Scruffy joined Rags and Phoenix in the culvert den last night. We imagine Rags and Phoenix enjoyed the benefit of a large warm Scruffy blanket. Whether in a ground next or in a den, bears are great at making their beds. It could be sticks and twigs or it could be grasses or straw. Bears use their talented paws and claws to rake together a comfortable mattress and blanket.
Soon, Scruffy, Rags and Phoenix will be ready to return to live in the wild where they belong. We've seen your questions about whether it's wise to release cubs in really cold weather. That's the good thing about the ABR wild enclosures. Our bears are doing just fine in exactly the same conditions they will find out in the wild. Though Scruffy, Rags and Phoenix are different sizes, they all are a very healthy weight to do well out in the wild. They will rest through the winter and emerge in the spring ready to live as the wild bears they are. We thank you for helping us give them a second chance at life in the wild where they belong.
Looks like Scruffy is a social bear 🐻 I hope his brother gives him company in the wild. Would Phoenix be released to the same area as them even though he was found in Gatlinburg?
So glad to see all of the boys using the culvert den. I certainly hope they will use it again tonight 🥶
May all humans stay warm as well in this dangerously cold weather 🙏🏻🐻♥️🙏🏻🐻♥️🙏🏻🐻♥️
🙏🏻♥️ all ABR staff and supporters
ABR Daily Update-January 20, 2025-Polar Vortex Cubs 🐻🐻🐻🥶
Weather: 25F (-4C) Humidity 43%, Sunny 🌞
It’s COLD! The cubs hunkered down for most of the day, snoozing. However, last night, it was party time for little bears. Phoenix and Rags left Scruffy sleeping on the platform and played popular bear games like “Swat the Cub”, “Bitey Face”, and “Chomp that Nubbin!” (a note to cubs descending a tree: expect your nubbin to be chomped.) Scruffy joined in the shenanigans, and a fun time was had by all. 🎉
Scruffy returned to sleep on the platform, but the two smarter…sorry,…the two smaller cubs finally entered a culvert den and spent the night covered in straw. Scruffy slept alone, but come morning, he went down to visit. We think Scruffy would be welcome in the den: it would be like having a furry potbelly stove radiating warmth. ❤️🔥🐻
Late this afternoon, the cubs foraged inside the Acclimation Pen. The curators raised the gate so the bears can get used to entering and exiting at will. Just before release day, the curators will lower the gate, trapping the cubs inside so they can be immobilized safely.
ABR Daily Update- January 19, 2025-Winter Cubs 🐻🐻🐻🌨️
Weather: 37F (3C), Humidity 94%, Light snow ❄️
It’s cold, it’s snowing, and Rags, Scruffy, and Phoenix are snoozing on the resting platform. It’s hard not to take their disregard for our culvert dens personally. What’s wrong with them? Are they not fancy enough? We’ve never claimed to be interior designers, but you’d think we could create something that would please bear cubs. Apparently, not these bear cubs.🤔
Our mission with Scruffy, Rags, and Phoenix is nearing its end. The cubs, soon to be yearlings, are healthy and ready for a second chance at life in the wild. Once they leave, we’ll begin major renovations to the Wild Enclosures. Please disregard any designs for future Wild Enclosure #5 you may have seen; we’ve had to rethink the entire project in terms of size and location. We’ll share the details as soon as we finalize them.
Our Cub Nursery, Hartley House, and The Cub House are ready to assist any cub who needs help. Thank you for supporting our efforts to care for them!
I’m guessing the new configurations are going to cost considerably more than what you had planned or budgeted. I believe ABR National needs to come together for a significant wild enclosure fund drive once the cubs have been released.
Have you tried putting a couple of apples at the door to the den?
Don’t take the snubbing of the culvert dens too personally! We all know that bears play with a different set of rules 😂. It’s hard to believe that on Wednesday the boys will officially be yearlings ♥️.
I hope all human ABR staff can stay safe and warm during this Polar Express ride we are about to take 😬
🙏🏻🐻♥️🙏🏻🐻♥️🙏🏻🐻♥️
🙏🏻♥️ all ABR staff and supporters
Our soon-to-be yearlings, Rags, Scruffy, and Phoenix, still aren't taking advantage of the straw-lined culvert dens. They might change their minds when cold weather arrives this weekend.
Black bears are "all-weather" animals, built to withstand various temperatures. In spring, they'll shed their thick winter coat for a sleek summer fur, just another adaptation that makes black bears such a successful species. Hibernation is another remarkable strategy - a perfect way to survive periods of food scarcity by essentially sleeping through challenging times.
We're attaching a link to a short animated video, which remains the best visual depiction of bear hibernation we’ve seen.
It occurs to us that many new friends aren't familiar with the ABR facility. We’re posting two photos showing its current state. Our curators are cleaning the facility, with activities currently limited to buildings and "quieter" work in unoccupied enclosures so they don’t disturb the cubs. Our mission with Rags, Scruffy, and Phoenix will end soon. Following their departure, we’ll be implementing a redesign of the wild enclosures - a plan we've been developing for weeks and will share once finalized. Significant behind-the-scenes work is ongoing to secure ABR's future and the future of orphaned or injured black bear cubs and yearlings.
We've received several inquiries about the necropsies of the thirteen cubs. These investigations take time, and we’ll share the results with you as soon as they become available.
You have so much work to do to give the cubs the best chance of survival you have those cubs in your heart.
Thanks for the update and the great information about bears and the facility. Has a date been set for the Bear Force 5k? I’m trying to plan a girls trip at that time.
I’m curious why they will be released during a time when bears usually hibernate.
ABR Daily Update - January 16, 2025 - How much wood would a bear cub cut if a bear cub could cut wood? 🐻🪵🦫
Weather: 48°F(9°C) Humidity 49%, Sunny☀️
The three bears in Wild Enclosure 1 have been very active today. From sunbathing on the platforms to foraging for peanuts, Phoenix, Scruffy and Rags have been out enjoying the sunshine and warmer weather. They are looking great and release day will come soon for them. Thank you for giving them a second chance. 🐻🐻🐻❤️
Curators Tom and Jamie, along with Executive Director Dana Dodd and ABR Board Member Mike Smith took a road trip today to Lawrence County, Tennessee. Here, an Amish sawmill is generously donating their wooden cypress slabs to our rescue facility. The cypress logs originally come from Arkansas and are cut for dimensioned lumber. Excess slabs from these lumber cuttings are then burned, or in this case, saved for bear cubs.
Curators plan to use the wood for facility upgrades such as platform replacements and artificial dens. Cypress wood is especially great for this because of its exceptional durability and natural resistance to rot and decay. Replacing the porous surfaces throughout our wild enclosures is just one of many things we are planning to do to ensure that our enclosures are as safe as possible for any future bear cubs in need. This alone makes the 4.5 hour commute (one-way) well worth it. Thank you for your support.
DONATE TODAY!!
ABR Daily Update #2 - January 23, 2025 - Graduation Day for Scruffy, Rags and Phoenix Bear! 🥳🐻🐻🐻🎓
Siblings Scruffy and Rags were also released back to the wild today. However, Scruffy had his own idea of "release" day and ABR curators and wildlife officials let him depart on his own time. Curator Seth was able to still get a short video of him on his way. ❤ Thank you so much for giving them a second chance. ... See MoreSee Less
135 CommentsComment on Facebook
I know I should be happy that they are back in the wild where they should be. But release day always brings tears to my eyes. I hope they all have a wonderful life! I'm going to miss them!
Awww, little Scruffy wasn't sure he was ready to go just yet. Rags said watch this! Run wild and free, boys. What will we do with our time until we're able to get more babies to love??❤🐻
What a bittersweet moment. My husband and I adopted Scruffy and Rags in November and have watched their progress every day. They were brought to ABR 3 days after we visited Townsend on our vacation. We visited ABR at Trillium while we were there and we fell in love with the organization. The bears were located on Hwy 321 which we had traveled on at least a dozen times in the week we were there. We were so thankful to not have been the cause of their mother's death. What a blessing everyone at ABR has been for them. It will be hard to not see them on a daily basis but we know they are where they belong - back in the beautiful Smoky Mountains. They will always be a wonderful memory of our trip to Tennessee. Run happy little guys! ❤❤🐻🐻
View more comments
ABR Daily Update - January 23, 2025 - Graduation Day for Scruffy, Rags and Phoenix Bear! 🥳🐻🐻🐻🎓
Today our mission with Scruffy, Rags and Phoenix Bear came to an end. We cannot thank you enough for helping us give them a second chance. ❤ We will post a release video for Scruffy and Rags shortly. ... See MoreSee Less
210 CommentsComment on Facebook
Bittersweet day! I'm happy for little Phoenix, but sad at the same time. I'm going to miss him, but I know he has the instinct to survive after what he's been through! Run wild and free little Phoenix!❤🐻
Crying like a baby but happy they are going home ❤️❤️
Always a bittersweet day 💕💕💕
View more comments
HAPPY CUBBY BIRTHDAY! 🥳Scruffy, Rags and Phoenix Bear are officially yearlings! 🐻🐻🐻 ... See MoreSee Less
96 CommentsComment on Facebook
Happy birthday cubbies!♥️🐻
Happy birthday, Phoenix, Rags and Scruffy!!!
Happy birthday bear
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January 21, 2025: Three's Company
Whether by invitation or party crash, Scruffy joined Rags and Phoenix in the culvert den last night. We imagine Rags and Phoenix enjoyed the benefit of a large warm Scruffy blanket. Whether in a ground next or in a den, bears are great at making their beds. It could be sticks and twigs or it could be grasses or straw. Bears use their talented paws and claws to rake together a comfortable mattress and blanket.
Soon, Scruffy, Rags and Phoenix will be ready to return to live in the wild where they belong. We've seen your questions about whether it's wise to release cubs in really cold weather. That's the good thing about the ABR wild enclosures. Our bears are doing just fine in exactly the same conditions they will find out in the wild. Though Scruffy, Rags and Phoenix are different sizes, they all are a very healthy weight to do well out in the wild. They will rest through the winter and emerge in the spring ready to live as the wild bears they are. We thank you for helping us give them a second chance at life in the wild where they belong.
appalachianbearrescue.org/2024-bear-necessities-campaign/ ... See MoreSee Less
47 CommentsComment on Facebook
Looks like Scruffy is a social bear 🐻 I hope his brother gives him company in the wild. Would Phoenix be released to the same area as them even though he was found in Gatlinburg?
So glad to see all of the boys using the culvert den. I certainly hope they will use it again tonight 🥶 May all humans stay warm as well in this dangerously cold weather 🙏🏻🐻♥️🙏🏻🐻♥️🙏🏻🐻♥️ 🙏🏻♥️ all ABR staff and supporters
Everyone deserves a scruffy blanket!
View more comments
ABR Daily Update-January 20, 2025-Polar Vortex Cubs 🐻🐻🐻🥶
Weather: 25F (-4C) Humidity 43%, Sunny 🌞
It’s COLD! The cubs hunkered down for most of the day, snoozing. However, last night, it was party time for little bears. Phoenix and Rags left Scruffy sleeping on the platform and played popular bear games like “Swat the Cub”, “Bitey Face”, and “Chomp that Nubbin!” (a note to cubs descending a tree: expect your nubbin to be chomped.) Scruffy joined in the shenanigans, and a fun time was had by all. 🎉
Scruffy returned to sleep on the platform, but the two smarter…sorry,…the two smaller cubs finally entered a culvert den and spent the night covered in straw. Scruffy slept alone, but come morning, he went down to visit. We think Scruffy would be welcome in the den: it would be like having a furry potbelly stove radiating warmth. ❤️🔥🐻
Late this afternoon, the cubs foraged inside the Acclimation Pen. The curators raised the gate so the bears can get used to entering and exiting at will. Just before release day, the curators will lower the gate, trapping the cubs inside so they can be immobilized safely.
❤️Please consider donating to Appalachian Bear Rescue’s Bear Necessities Fund.
bit.ly/3Zhmi48
🎉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
42 CommentsComment on Facebook
Will miss them..will they find a den in this cold and be ok ?
Appalachian Bear Rescue Has scruffy demonstrated an acceptable ability to climb trees yet? Or does he still just use the downed platform? Thank you 🙏
Although I know ABR knows best, I still pray the really cold weather ends before they are released. Bless the babies!
View more comments
ABR Daily Update- January 19, 2025-Winter Cubs 🐻🐻🐻🌨️
Weather: 37F (3C), Humidity 94%, Light snow ❄️
It’s cold, it’s snowing, and Rags, Scruffy, and Phoenix are snoozing on the resting platform. It’s hard not to take their disregard for our culvert dens personally. What’s wrong with them? Are they not fancy enough? We’ve never claimed to be interior designers, but you’d think we could create something that would please bear cubs. Apparently, not these bear cubs.🤔
Our mission with Scruffy, Rags, and Phoenix is nearing its end. The cubs, soon to be yearlings, are healthy and ready for a second chance at life in the wild. Once they leave, we’ll begin major renovations to the Wild Enclosures. Please disregard any designs for future Wild Enclosure #5 you may have seen; we’ve had to rethink the entire project in terms of size and location. We’ll share the details as soon as we finalize them.
Our Cub Nursery, Hartley House, and The Cub House are ready to assist any cub who needs help. Thank you for supporting our efforts to care for them!
❤️Please consider donating to Appalachian Bear Rescue’s Bear Necessities Fund.
bit.ly/3Zhmi48
🎉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
52 CommentsComment on Facebook
I’m guessing the new configurations are going to cost considerably more than what you had planned or budgeted. I believe ABR National needs to come together for a significant wild enclosure fund drive once the cubs have been released.
Have you tried putting a couple of apples at the door to the den?
Don’t take the snubbing of the culvert dens too personally! We all know that bears play with a different set of rules 😂. It’s hard to believe that on Wednesday the boys will officially be yearlings ♥️. I hope all human ABR staff can stay safe and warm during this Polar Express ride we are about to take 😬 🙏🏻🐻♥️🙏🏻🐻♥️🙏🏻🐻♥️ 🙏🏻♥️ all ABR staff and supporters
View more comments
ABR Daily Update - January 18, 2025-A Successful Species 🐻🐻🐻
Weather: Temperature: 52°F (11°C),Humidity: 86%, Cloudy ☁️
Our soon-to-be yearlings, Rags, Scruffy, and Phoenix, still aren't taking advantage of the straw-lined culvert dens. They might change their minds when cold weather arrives this weekend.
Black bears are "all-weather" animals, built to withstand various temperatures. In spring, they'll shed their thick winter coat for a sleek summer fur, just another adaptation that makes black bears such a successful species. Hibernation is another remarkable strategy - a perfect way to survive periods of food scarcity by essentially sleeping through challenging times.
We're attaching a link to a short animated video, which remains the best visual depiction of bear hibernation we’ve seen.
www.facebook.com/atlasobscura/videos/10154293884517728/
It occurs to us that many new friends aren't familiar with the ABR facility. We’re posting two photos showing its current state.
Our curators are cleaning the facility, with activities currently limited to buildings and "quieter" work in unoccupied enclosures so they don’t disturb the cubs. Our mission with Rags, Scruffy, and Phoenix will end soon. Following their departure, we’ll be implementing a redesign of the wild enclosures - a plan we've been developing for weeks and will share once finalized. Significant behind-the-scenes work is ongoing to secure ABR's future and the future of orphaned or injured black bear cubs and yearlings.
We've received several inquiries about the necropsies of the thirteen cubs. These investigations take time, and we’ll share the results with you as soon as they become available.
❤️Please consider donating to Appalachian Bear Rescue’s Bear Necessities Fund.
bit.ly/3Zhmi48
🎉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
44 CommentsComment on Facebook
You have so much work to do to give the cubs the best chance of survival you have those cubs in your heart.
Thanks for the update and the great information about bears and the facility. Has a date been set for the Bear Force 5k? I’m trying to plan a girls trip at that time.
I’m curious why they will be released during a time when bears usually hibernate.
View more comments
Happy Friday! ... See MoreSee Less
31 CommentsComment on Facebook
Thank you Curator Tori.
They look so good! Thank you for your care! I hope TWRA will behave themselves!! 🐻🐻🐻😊🥰
Thank you. Have a good weekend and thank you for all you do!!!!
View more comments
ABR Daily Update - January 16, 2025 - How much wood would a bear cub cut if a bear cub could cut wood? 🐻🪵🦫
Weather: 48°F(9°C) Humidity 49%, Sunny☀️
The three bears in Wild Enclosure 1 have been very active today. From sunbathing on the platforms to foraging for peanuts, Phoenix, Scruffy and Rags have been out enjoying the sunshine and warmer weather. They are looking great and release day will come soon for them. Thank you for giving them a second chance. 🐻🐻🐻❤️
Curators Tom and Jamie, along with Executive Director Dana Dodd and ABR Board Member Mike Smith took a road trip today to Lawrence County, Tennessee. Here, an Amish sawmill is generously donating their wooden cypress slabs to our rescue facility. The cypress logs originally come from Arkansas and are cut for dimensioned lumber. Excess slabs from these lumber cuttings are then burned, or in this case, saved for bear cubs.
Curators plan to use the wood for facility upgrades such as platform replacements and artificial dens. Cypress wood is especially great for this because of its exceptional durability and natural resistance to rot and decay. Replacing the porous surfaces throughout our wild enclosures is just one of many things we are planning to do to ensure that our enclosures are as safe as possible for any future bear cubs in need. This alone makes the 4.5 hour commute (one-way) well worth it. Thank you for your support.
❤️Please consider donating to Appalachian Bear Rescue’s Bear Necessities Fund.
bit.ly/3Zhmi48
🎉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
61 CommentsComment on Facebook
The cubs look great. Have the lab results been released on the December cubs?
I love these three cubs so much. In fact, I love them 13 times more than I normally would. You know what I mean?
A huge thanks to the Amish for their generous donation of the cypress wood!! All 3 cubs look so healthy and happy!! Thank you!!!!! ♥️🐻
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