Donate Today >>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.
As Board President Mike Smith said when sending over this photo, the mama bears are out grazing and their little ones are experiencing the wide world in their first year!
The world is alive with electric greens, birdsong, and nature's offspring. The transition from spring to summertime is truly a magical time for us, black bears, and all of Appalachia.
Truly, "transition" is an apt word for the ABR family. We have a very busy and exciting week ahead of us, and are eager to share progress and next steps with you all.
In the meantime, we would LOVE to see any photos of bears out in the wild you've all captures so far this year. Please send them to us in a message so we can compile them and make an "ABR Family Bear Sightings" album!
Can't wait to see those photos - and here's to an exciting week ahead! ... See MoreSee Less
Every hour of every day, we're moving towards accepting cubs once again. After weeks of rain, the grass is finally taking hold and growing in enclosures 5 and 6. With that, finishing touches can be completed, and the team is currently putting posts in the ground for further bear-suited platforms.
"Platform structures are an ideal spot for cubs to play, relax, socialize, and sleep. Being off the ground, they provide a sense of security to the cubs and even help them practice and develop climbing skills that will prove to be invaluable later in life for foraging," Lead Curator Seth Wyckoff says.
And, all the while, Seth has become so good at growing grass in the new enclosures that even his socks are growing said grass while he mans the new platforms.
"Building the structures is a whole ordeal in itself. The first step is simply walking the enclosure grounds and finding the right location. Things like area size, sunlight exposure, collage cover, soil consistency, root density, and observation availability are all considered when picking a location," Seth continues.
Next up? Planning what shape and size the platforms will be. "Depending on the clearing size and tree density, certain shapes and sizes have to be selected to fit the space. Unlike in the past, we now are committed to building the platforms completely off the trees, as to promote the longevity of both the tree health and the platform integrity."
We're living and learning and growing at ABR and, as Seth says, it's important to us to ensure the health of the entire ecosystem at our facilitiess, not just for bears.
Curator Seth has started the building process by digging the 44” deep holes for the support poles to rest in. Each pole is 12 feet long and 8 inches in diameter, making it a very heavy piece of wood to carry. The sheer weight of the poles provide structural stability and resilience to the abuse they will have to withstand from the cubs.
On top of being buried deep in the clay, curator Seth is also anchoring each pole with a construction grade foam that provides the same anchoring function as concrete.
Once all the poles in enclosures 5 and 6 are anchored into the ground, the rest of the platform can be quickly built.
We'll continue to keep you updated every step of the way, and sincerely appreciate your support, patience, and unrivaled sense of community. As soon as all our partners and teams are ready to share further good news, you will all be the first to know.
In the meantime, we've re-stocked a lot of best-sellers in the Gift Shop. Manager Sarah is doing a phenomenal job of ensuring that side of things continues on strong, and we're incredibly grateful for all her hard work.
Or, please come see us in the Visitors Center & Gift Shop at Trillium Cove Shopping Center off East Lamar Alexander Parkway on Highway 321 in Townsend, address: 121 Painted Trillium Way.
Every purchase helps ABR forward, so thank you all for everything you do as part of the ABR family! ... See MoreSee Less
Free this Friday night? In the Knoxville area? Join ABR in person for the 🐻Ursa Curiosa 🐻 opening reception at the UT Gardens!
WHERE: UT Gardens Knoxville
2506 Jacob Dr, Knoxville, TN 37996
WHEN: Friday, June 5, from 5:30-7:30pm
FREE, open to the public!
Lead Curator Seth Wyckoff will be greeting guests with black bear educational materials, ABR info, and loads of experience and humor (hold him to it).
Friends of the Smokies and the National Park Service will also be there with information about our bears and human/bear interactions.
This reception is free and open to the public, and black bear artworks by local artists and children will be installed throughout the Gardens. Come grab a map and wander as you wish! Light refreshments will be provided.
The current forecast looks pleasant for Friday, but the event will be rain or shine.
💬ABOUT Ursa Curiosa: A Garden Art Exhibit - This unbearably fun and whimsical event seeks to raise awareness about the need to protect our native bears as urban development encroaches on their natural habitat.
The exhibition is part of Knoxville’s First Friday arts celebration, with its grand opening evet on June 5, 2026. Fifty-one artists’ visions will acknowledge the importance of black bears in our southern Appalachian ecosystems. Local children also are participating by expressing their creative talents on decorated bear faces or acorn cutouts. The children’s exhibit runs concurrently with the adult exhibit. The exhibit will be open throughout the summer during daylight hours. The children’s pieces will be displayed in the Children’s Garden, while the pieces crafted by adults will be located throughout the grounds. A brochure and electronic maps will be available to assist in finding each piece.
Informational bear facts will also be included as part of the exhibition, and new this year is the expansion of the exhibit to include several pieces to be displayed at the Sugarlands Visitor Center in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park through a partnership with the Friends of the Smokies. The UT Gardens, Crossville, will also host a display at the UT Plateau AgResearch and Education Center.
Now in its ninth year, the Art in the Gardens exhibit will conclude in late September with an exciting online auction of these fantastic works of art.
June 1, 2026 - A Beary Happy June to our ABR Family 🐻💚
🐻 What Are Black Bears Up To in June?
June is one of the busiest months of the year for black bears in Appalachia. As summer begins, bears are on the move - and then some. They're searching for food, finding mates, teaching the next generation how to survive in the wild, and all of this means black bear sightings are on the rise in our communities.
Here's what's happening in bear country right now:
🌿 They're Eating Constantly: Natural foods are still limited in many areas ahead of berries ripening and fall mast crops arriving. So, bears spend much of their day foraging for grasses, tender vegetation, insects, grubs, carrion, and prey. Every calorie counts.
💕 Mating Season Has Begun: Black bear mating season occurs in early to mid-summer, and really heats up in July. June sees breeding behaviors kickstart and adult males may travel many miles across the mountains searching for females, making bear sightings more common this time of year.
🐻Young Bears Are On Their Own: Cubs are exploring their surroundings much more rambunctiously as their mothers teach them how to be a bear. Many yearlings are now being separated from their mothers and beginning independent lives. These young bears are maturing, learning how to find food, avoid danger, and establish their own territories.
🏡 Bears Visit Neighborhoods, Towns & Cities: Because natural foods can be unpredictable in spring and early summer, bears are always looking for easy calories. Unsecured garbage, pet food, bird seed, and other attractants can quickly draw a hungry bear into a yard or human habitats.
✅ Help Keep Bears Wild: • Secure trash until pickup day • Bring in bird feeders when bears are active • Feed pets indoors whenever possible • Clean outdoor grills after use • Never intentionally feed bears
Every attractant we remove helps keep bears wild, healthy, and out of trouble.
🔊Have you spotted a bear in your area? Let us know int he comments below!
Happy June ABR family! Let's all continue to be #BearWise together 🐻💚
May 28, 2026 - Want to experience the full joy of late spring humidity in Tennessee? Trim some hedges! Curators Tom & Seth have been putting in the sweat required to keep our Townsend Visitors Center & Gift Shop looking tip top.
As Seth said, it was "hot and awful" - but worth it.
We sincerely appreciate each of you that's come by to shop and say hi! ... See MoreSee Less
May 27, 2026 - Spotlight on Lead Curator Seth Wyckoff
To know Lead Curator Seth is to appreciate intelligence and humor in equal measure. Many of you have met and seen Seth hard at work over the last few years here at ABR, and today we'd like to thank our Lead Curator for the exceptional work he's put into lifting us up into this next chapter.
GET TO KNOW LEAD CURATOR SETH:
📋Seth has been working in the field of wildlife health for over a decade. With a graduate degree in Parasitology and Wildlife disease ecology, Seth came to ABR with a wealth of experience and knowledge stemming from working at South Eastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study (SCDWS), University of Tennessee, and the private research sector at Boehringer-Ingelheim.
When not taking care of bears and maintaining the facility, Seth can be found fishing, caving, hiking, and taking pictures of any snake or salamander he can get his hands on. We've included the proof via photos from the man himself!
We've leaned on Seth heavily during his time at ABR. His expertise is a phenomenal resource for ABR and our conservation community, but so is his strength, endurance, and willingness to do/build/make anything just about anything.
We hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend! How is it already almost June? Thankfully, May finally brought the rain we've so desperately needed and the mountains and valleys are transitioning from dusty winds to blooming wonders. Which, coincidentally, made it the perfect time to film our virtual facilities tour for you all!
With the absence of little 🐻 ones and everything coming along smoothly, Director Greg, Katrina, and Jon, took the opportunity to film ABR's Virtual Facility Tour we've had on the docket for a while now. Being able to do so without disturbing any cubs was critical (and excellent), so again, it was the perfect time to do so.
But most importantly: We've wanted to be able to show you all what your incredible generosity, kindness, and conservation focus has allowed us to do together. Once Jon is finished with the virtual tour, you'll all be able to see the incredible facility updates, additions, and expansions that you made possible.
So, this summer, no matter where you live or how you've helped us through this journey, you'll be able to tour the ABR facilities in full with commentary and insight from Director Greg & Curator Katrina.
May 21, 2026 - We're thrilled to announce that Jon D. B. is assisting ABR as a Communications Specialist! Many of you have met Jon through his role as Director of Communications at TennGreen Land Conservancy or through the work we've done together so far, and we're excited for more of you to meet him!
With so much happening for us (and in conservation in general), it's been the perfect time to have Jon help us with all things Communications as he's able. You'll notice some updates to the website rolling out alongside videography, photography, media, press, and public relations whenever Jon isn't working to conserve land statewide with TennGreen Land Conservancy.
Behind the scenes, Jon has been helping us out by volunteering throughout the last year and has been a friend to ABR for years - So please join us in welcoming Jon to the family!
Bio: A naturalist by trade, Jon D. B. is the Director of Communications for TennGreen Land Conservancy. When able, he assists Appalachian Bear Rescue (ABR) as a Communications Specialist.
Born in Nashville but raised in the foothills of the Smokies, Jon grew up exploring Tennessee's incredible nature with his family and has always felt most at home in Appalachia. Certified in behavioral husbandry by the AZA Accredited Nashville Zoo and wildlife rescue by Walden’s Puddle, Jon brings an intimate knowledge of our wild spaces and their residents to his work with conservation nonprofits. Having followed ABR's journey since childhood, he was thrilled to begin collaborating with the team and continuing work with his favorite animal and neighbor: the American black bear.
Through naturalist and field work stretching from our Great Smoky Mountains across the continent to the remote Badlands of North Dakota and down to the swamps of the deep south, Jon has experienced all facets of science communications and storytelling with congruent backgrounds in journalism, copywriting, and creative direction. Working closely with the National Park Service, Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom, National Wildlife Federation, Paramount, National Geographic/Disney, and others throughout, these journeys led him to the crucial work of TennGreen Land Conservancy, where critical habitat and resources for black bears in Tennessee alongside all cohabitating species - including us humans - is conserved for future generations. We're all in this together.
Jon has also been working on a comprehensive guide to the black bears of the Great Smoky Mountains with experts from across the field since 2021.
He currently resides north of Nashville where his/the TennGreen office is located. THANK YOU to our friends at TennGreen Land Conservancy and to Jon for helping ABR into this next chapter! ... See MoreSee Less
June 6, 2026 - "Mama bears are out grazing!"
As Board President Mike Smith said when sending over this photo, the mama bears are out grazing and their little ones are experiencing the wide world in their first year!
The world is alive with electric greens, birdsong, and nature's offspring. The transition from spring to summertime is truly a magical time for us, black bears, and all of Appalachia.
Truly, "transition" is an apt word for the ABR family. We have a very busy and exciting week ahead of us, and are eager to share progress and next steps with you all.
In the meantime, we would LOVE to see any photos of bears out in the wild you've all captures so far this year. Please send them to us in a message so we can compile them and make an "ABR Family Bear Sightings" album!
Can't wait to see those photos - and here's to an exciting week ahead! ... See MoreSee Less
13 CommentsComment on Facebook
June 4, 2026 - Moving Forward as the Grass Grows
Every hour of every day, we're moving towards accepting cubs once again. After weeks of rain, the grass is finally taking hold and growing in enclosures 5 and 6. With that, finishing touches can be completed, and the team is currently putting posts in the ground for further bear-suited platforms.
"Platform structures are an ideal spot for cubs to play, relax, socialize, and sleep. Being off the ground, they provide a sense of security to the cubs and even help them practice and develop climbing skills that will prove to be invaluable later in life for foraging," Lead Curator Seth Wyckoff says.
And, all the while, Seth has become so good at growing grass in the new enclosures that even his socks are growing said grass while he mans the new platforms.
"Building the structures is a whole ordeal in itself. The first step is simply walking the enclosure grounds and finding the right location. Things like area size, sunlight exposure, collage cover, soil consistency, root density, and observation availability are all considered when picking a location," Seth continues.
Next up? Planning what shape and size the platforms will be. "Depending on the clearing size and tree density, certain shapes and sizes have to be selected to fit the space. Unlike in the past, we now are committed to building the platforms completely off the trees, as to promote the longevity of both the tree health and the platform integrity."
We're living and learning and growing at ABR and, as Seth says, it's important to us to ensure the health of the entire ecosystem at our facilitiess, not just for bears.
Curator Seth has started the building process by digging the 44” deep holes for the support poles to rest in. Each pole is 12 feet long and 8 inches in diameter, making it a very heavy piece of wood to carry. The sheer weight of the poles provide structural stability and resilience to the abuse they will have to withstand from the cubs.
On top of being buried deep in the clay, curator Seth is also anchoring each pole with a construction grade foam that provides the same anchoring function as concrete.
Once all the poles in enclosures 5 and 6 are anchored into the ground, the rest of the platform can be quickly built.
We'll continue to keep you updated every step of the way, and sincerely appreciate your support, patience, and unrivaled sense of community. As soon as all our partners and teams are ready to share further good news, you will all be the first to know.
In the meantime, we've re-stocked a lot of best-sellers in the Gift Shop. Manager Sarah is doing a phenomenal job of ensuring that side of things continues on strong, and we're incredibly grateful for all her hard work.
To visit our online store and shop, go to:
appalachian-bear-rescue.myshopify.com/
Or, please come see us in the Visitors Center & Gift Shop at Trillium Cove Shopping Center off East Lamar Alexander Parkway on Highway 321 in Townsend, address: 121 Painted Trillium Way.
Every purchase helps ABR forward, so thank you all for everything you do as part of the ABR family! ... See MoreSee Less
19 CommentsComment on Facebook
Free this Friday night? In the Knoxville area? Join ABR in person for the 🐻Ursa Curiosa 🐻 opening reception at the UT Gardens!
WHERE: UT Gardens Knoxville
2506 Jacob Dr, Knoxville, TN 37996
WHEN: Friday, June 5, from 5:30-7:30pm
FREE, open to the public!
Lead Curator Seth Wyckoff will be greeting guests with black bear educational materials, ABR info, and loads of experience and humor (hold him to it).
Friends of the Smokies and the National Park Service will also be there with information about our bears and human/bear interactions.
This reception is free and open to the public, and black bear artworks by local artists and children will be installed throughout the Gardens. Come grab a map and wander as you wish! Light refreshments will be provided.
The current forecast looks pleasant for Friday, but the event will be rain or shine.
💬ABOUT Ursa Curiosa: A Garden Art Exhibit - This unbearably fun and whimsical event seeks to raise awareness about the need to protect our native bears as urban development encroaches on their natural habitat.
The exhibition is part of Knoxville’s First Friday arts celebration, with its grand opening evet on June 5, 2026. Fifty-one artists’ visions will acknowledge the importance of black bears in our southern Appalachian ecosystems. Local children also are participating by expressing their creative talents on decorated bear faces or acorn cutouts. The children’s exhibit runs concurrently with the adult exhibit. The exhibit will be open throughout the summer during daylight hours. The children’s pieces will be displayed in the Children’s Garden, while the pieces crafted by adults will be located throughout the grounds. A brochure and electronic maps will be available to assist in finding each piece.
Informational bear facts will also be included as part of the exhibition, and new this year is the expansion of the exhibit to include several pieces to be displayed at the Sugarlands Visitor Center in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park through a partnership with the Friends of the Smokies. The UT Gardens, Crossville, will also host a display at the UT Plateau AgResearch and Education Center.
Now in its ninth year, the Art in the Gardens exhibit will conclude in late September with an exciting online auction of these fantastic works of art.
We hope to see you there! ... See MoreSee Less
6 CommentsComment on Facebook
Our 30th Anniversary Shirts featuring this new celebratory logo are restocked and available in our gift shop! To purchase online and support cub rescues and black bear conservation, please visit: appalachian-bear-rescue.myshopify.com/collections/bear-wear ... See MoreSee Less
15 CommentsComment on Facebook
June 1, 2026 - A Beary Happy June to our ABR Family 🐻💚
🐻 What Are Black Bears Up To in June?
June is one of the busiest months of the year for black bears in Appalachia. As summer begins, bears are on the move - and then some. They're searching for food, finding mates, teaching the next generation how to survive in the wild, and all of this means black bear sightings are on the rise in our communities.
Here's what's happening in bear country right now:
🌿 They're Eating Constantly:
Natural foods are still limited in many areas ahead of berries ripening and fall mast crops arriving. So, bears spend much of their day foraging for grasses, tender vegetation, insects, grubs, carrion, and prey. Every calorie counts.
💕 Mating Season Has Begun:
Black bear mating season occurs in early to mid-summer, and really heats up in July. June sees breeding behaviors kickstart and adult males may travel many miles across the mountains searching for females, making bear sightings more common this time of year.
🐻Young Bears Are On Their Own:
Cubs are exploring their surroundings much more rambunctiously as their mothers teach them how to be a bear. Many yearlings are now being separated from their mothers and beginning independent lives. These young bears are maturing, learning how to find food, avoid danger, and establish their own territories.
🏡 Bears Visit Neighborhoods, Towns & Cities:
Because natural foods can be unpredictable in spring and early summer, bears are always looking for easy calories. Unsecured garbage, pet food, bird seed, and other attractants can quickly draw a hungry bear into a yard or human habitats.
✅ Help Keep Bears Wild:
• Secure trash until pickup day
• Bring in bird feeders when bears are active
• Feed pets indoors whenever possible
• Clean outdoor grills after use
• Never intentionally feed bears
Every attractant we remove helps keep bears wild, healthy, and out of trouble.
🔊Have you spotted a bear in your area? Let us know int he comments below!
Happy June ABR family! Let's all continue to be #BearWise together 🐻💚
#AppalachianBearRescue #BlackBears #KeepBearsWild #Appalachia #BearCountry ... See MoreSee Less
30 CommentsComment on Facebook
May 28, 2026 - Want to experience the full joy of late spring humidity in Tennessee? Trim some hedges! Curators Tom & Seth have been putting in the sweat required to keep our Townsend Visitors Center & Gift Shop looking tip top.
As Seth said, it was "hot and awful" - but worth it.
We sincerely appreciate each of you that's come by to shop and say hi! ... See MoreSee Less
14 CommentsComment on Facebook
May 27, 2026 - Spotlight on Lead Curator Seth Wyckoff
To know Lead Curator Seth is to appreciate intelligence and humor in equal measure. Many of you have met and seen Seth hard at work over the last few years here at ABR, and today we'd like to thank our Lead Curator for the exceptional work he's put into lifting us up into this next chapter.
GET TO KNOW LEAD CURATOR SETH:
📋Seth has been working in the field of wildlife health for over a decade. With a graduate degree in Parasitology and Wildlife disease ecology, Seth came to ABR with a wealth of experience and knowledge stemming from working at South Eastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study (SCDWS), University of Tennessee, and the private research sector at Boehringer-Ingelheim.
When not taking care of bears and maintaining the facility, Seth can be found fishing, caving, hiking, and taking pictures of any snake or salamander he can get his hands on. We've included the proof via photos from the man himself!
We've leaned on Seth heavily during his time at ABR. His expertise is a phenomenal resource for ABR and our conservation community, but so is his strength, endurance, and willingness to do/build/make anything just about anything.
Thank you, Seth! ... See MoreSee Less
24 CommentsComment on Facebook
May 26, 2026 - Virtual Facility Tour Coming Soon
We hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend! How is it already almost June? Thankfully, May finally brought the rain we've so desperately needed and the mountains and valleys are transitioning from dusty winds to blooming wonders. Which, coincidentally, made it the perfect time to film our virtual facilities tour for you all!
With the absence of little 🐻 ones and everything coming along smoothly, Director Greg, Katrina, and Jon, took the opportunity to film ABR's Virtual Facility Tour we've had on the docket for a while now. Being able to do so without disturbing any cubs was critical (and excellent), so again, it was the perfect time to do so.
But most importantly: We've wanted to be able to show you all what your incredible generosity, kindness, and conservation focus has allowed us to do together. Once Jon is finished with the virtual tour, you'll all be able to see the incredible facility updates, additions, and expansions that you made possible.
So, this summer, no matter where you live or how you've helped us through this journey, you'll be able to tour the ABR facilities in full with commentary and insight from Director Greg & Curator Katrina.
We can't wait to share it with you 🐻❤ ... See MoreSee Less
33 CommentsComment on Facebook
May 21, 2026 - We're thrilled to announce that Jon D. B. is assisting ABR as a Communications Specialist! Many of you have met Jon through his role as Director of Communications at TennGreen Land Conservancy or through the work we've done together so far, and we're excited for more of you to meet him!
With so much happening for us (and in conservation in general), it's been the perfect time to have Jon help us with all things Communications as he's able. You'll notice some updates to the website rolling out alongside videography, photography, media, press, and public relations whenever Jon isn't working to conserve land statewide with TennGreen Land Conservancy.
Behind the scenes, Jon has been helping us out by volunteering throughout the last year and has been a friend to ABR for years - So please join us in welcoming Jon to the family!
Bio: A naturalist by trade, Jon D. B. is the Director of Communications for TennGreen Land Conservancy. When able, he assists Appalachian Bear Rescue (ABR) as a Communications Specialist.
Born in Nashville but raised in the foothills of the Smokies, Jon grew up exploring Tennessee's incredible nature with his family and has always felt most at home in Appalachia. Certified in behavioral husbandry by the AZA Accredited Nashville Zoo and wildlife rescue by Walden’s Puddle, Jon brings an intimate knowledge of our wild spaces and their residents to his work with conservation nonprofits. Having followed ABR's journey since childhood, he was thrilled to begin collaborating with the team and continuing work with his favorite animal and neighbor: the American black bear.
Through naturalist and field work stretching from our Great Smoky Mountains across the continent to the remote Badlands of North Dakota and down to the swamps of the deep south, Jon has experienced all facets of science communications and storytelling with congruent backgrounds in journalism, copywriting, and creative direction. Working closely with the National Park Service, Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom, National Wildlife Federation, Paramount, National Geographic/Disney, and others throughout, these journeys led him to the crucial work of TennGreen Land Conservancy, where critical habitat and resources for black bears in Tennessee alongside all cohabitating species - including us humans - is conserved for future generations. We're all in this together.
Jon has also been working on a comprehensive guide to the black bears of the Great Smoky Mountains with experts from across the field since 2021.
He currently resides north of Nashville where his/the TennGreen office is located. THANK YOU to our friends at TennGreen Land Conservancy and to Jon for helping ABR into this next chapter! ... See MoreSee Less
71 CommentsComment on Facebook