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-January 13, 2025-Picture Day 🐻🐻🐻📸
Weather: 46F (8C) Humidity 66%, Partly cloudy 🌤️
The cubs are sleeping at Rag's pad. Their daybed, located at the base of a tree, is their favorite place, and they leave it only to get a snack or when it becomes very snowy or very wet.
The cubs like to sleep and are most active later in the afternoon and at night. Yesterday, while they were foraging, Curator Seth took several high-definition photos of the cubs to add to their files. Our mission with Rags, Scruffy, and Phoenix will end in a couple of weeks, and we need these pictures to document their progress while at ABR. The cubs couldn’t see Curator Seth, but they knew he was there; nothing can fool a sensitive cubby schnoz. Though they vary in size, the cubs are in very good condition and ready to return to the wild.🐻🐻🐻
Our hearts go out to the people and animals affected by the terrible wildfires in California. We are appalled by the extent of destruction and salute the firefighters and volunteers who are battling tremendous odds to bring the fires under control.❤️
I know this is a dumb question but, I always thought bears dug dens into the ground to hibernate. Why don't the cubs try doing it at ABR since they are outside? When they are released will they also stay above ground and find a new "day bed"?
Is it possible to “symbolically adopt” a cub and pay towards their care like the zoo does ?
They look so great! Thank you, ABR! I hope you will have news to share soon on how things are progressing with TWRA.
January 12, 2025: Snow Day Cubs Scruffy, Rags and Phoenix Bear enjoyed their snow day. Curator Katrina provided peanuts and acorns on top of the snow, but our cubs used their powerful sniffers to find plenty of treats under the snow too. A few inches of snow won't stop a cubby nose...especially one that's attached to a rumbly tummy!
Thank you for all you do for our cubs and for all of us at ABR. We couldn't do our work without YOU!
Amazed to see how well Phoenix's facial fur has come in. I was worried about his being released in winter, as small as he is. But I see that, though small, he has packed on a generous amount of fat that should see him through the winter. Thanks, ABR!
Love seeing them playing in the snow ❤️ and how chubby our boys are getting thank you fir all you do for them ❤️×13 angel bears 🐻 ❤️to Rags Scruffy and Phoenix
Seeing these cubs is the best part of my day. They are all so cute and precious 💕
Curator Katrina was up early this morning to enjoy our 4-5 inches of beautiful snow. Katrina grew up in Wisconsin and definitely knows the value of using a good snow shovel. She shoveled the stepping stones, the front porch, and then headed out to shovel around the gate area. Our curators are working long shifts during the snow event. It's better to stay longer and have fewer folks driving on our southern snowy (and often unplowed) roads.
Maybe it was the excitement of southern snow that kept Rags Bear up late last night. Scruffy and Phoenix went to bed at Rags' Place, but Rags didn't make it home until just before midnight. When he finally settled in, he plopped down on top of Phoenix Bear. We assume that Phoenix enjoyed the benefit of a nice, warm fluffy blanket. He certainly didn't seem to object.
After shoveling around the office, Curator Katrina took peanuts and acorns down to Enclosure 1. There was plenty of food in there, but Katrina made sure there was a breakfast buffet on top of the snow. Scruffy and Phoenix readily accepted the invitation to breakfast. For Rags, it was late to bed and late to rise. Not to worry, though! Rags made it in time for Brunch. All three bears had plenty to eat and we believe they all know not to eat yellow snow!
Thank you for all you do to give our bears a second chance at life in the wild. We couldn't do our work without YOU! ... See MoreSee Less
Love! Love! Love seeing the little babies in the snow( well- Scruffy isn’t so little anymore but he’s still young and a baby) . Thank you, ABR, for all you do!
Thank you for the snowy update. A big thank you Curator Katrina for getting the snow cleaned off and taking care of our round little cubs. Glad all is well at ABR♥️🐻🐾
January 11, 2025: Trillium Cove Visitor Center Closed Today
We have several inches of beautiful snow in our neck of the woods today. Our Trillium Cove Visitor Center will be closed again today. Stay safe out there and enjoy the snow!
As a precaution, the ABR Trillium Cove Visitor Center will be CLOSED today. Snow is expected in our area soon and driving conditions will likely deteriorate.
We will make a decision about opening tomorrow (Saturday) based on road conditions in our area. STAY SAFE AND WARM! ... See MoreSee Less
Today, ABR’s staff took a field trip! ABR Board Member, Phil Colclough, is the Director of Animal Care, Conservation and Education for Zoo Knoxville and was kind enough to invite our staff out to the zoo for a behind-the-scenes tour and tortoise therapy session. Greg, Katrina, Seth and Jamie joined Phil and other Zoo Knoxville staff to discuss all things animal husbandry, enrichment and facility upkeep. At the end of their tour, Curators visited Al the Aldabra Giant Tortoise. Al is a longtime resident of Zoo Knoxville and believed to be about 150 years old! We want to extend a huge thank you to Phil and Zoo Knoxville for having our staff out today (and to Curator Tom who sat this one out to keep an eye on things at ABR’s own facility).
Townsend, as well as most of Tennessee and the surrounding states, is under a Winter Storm Warning. Beginning tomorrow morning, snow accumulation of 3-6 inches is possible, along with slick and hazardous conditions. Last week on Facebook Live, Tori and Greg talked about a bear’s ability to withstand the winter elements. They do this largely through two different types of pelage or fur. Guard hairs make up the coarse outer layer of hair that protects bears from moisture, while their down underfur protects and insulates them from the bitter cold. From the ABR archives, a picture of Aralia Bear from the Cub Class of 2020 portrays a great example of what the wool-like down hair looks like in comparison to the guard hairs.
Scruffy, Rags and Phoenix Bear have plenty of fur (and fat) to sit this winter storm out comfortably. Join Curator Tori at 12:30PM eastern tomorrow to see what they think of the incoming snow. Thank you for your support. ❤️❄️ ... See MoreSee Less
Thank you Big Al and Zoo Knoxville for inviting the ABR staff for a visit. Al is quite revered here. Thank you Curator Tom for holding down the fort at ABR. I hope we can see the boys having a snowball fight tomorrow.
🙏🏻🐻♥️x3
🙏🏻♥️ all ABR staff and followers
🙏🏻♥️ Big Al
Glad to see that the curators were able to have a much deserved field trip to the Knoxville Zoo. Can’t wait to see what new ideas they have for future bears. Thank you Curator Tom for keeping a watchful eye on our cub kids. We know our little round cubs will be warm in the snow with all that padding. Everyone stay safe and warm.♥️🐻🐾🙏🏻❄️
Curator Tom, thank you so much for always being willing to help however you are needed. ❤🐻🙏 Prayers for safety from the storm.
We are so sorry but Facebook Live is canceled today. Everything at the facility and with Scruffy, Rags and Phoenix is OK. Please stay tuned for a video update that will be posted shortly. We appreciate your patience. 🐻 ... See MoreSee Less
DONATE TODAY!!
ABR Daily Update-January 13, 2025-Picture Day 🐻🐻🐻📸
Weather: 46F (8C) Humidity 66%, Partly cloudy 🌤️
The cubs are sleeping at Rag's pad. Their daybed, located at the base of a tree, is their favorite place, and they leave it only to get a snack or when it becomes very snowy or very wet.
The cubs like to sleep and are most active later in the afternoon and at night. Yesterday, while they were foraging, Curator Seth took several high-definition photos of the cubs to add to their files. Our mission with Rags, Scruffy, and Phoenix will end in a couple of weeks, and we need these pictures to document their progress while at ABR. The cubs couldn’t see Curator Seth, but they knew he was there; nothing can fool a sensitive cubby schnoz. Though they vary in size, the cubs are in very good condition and ready to return to the wild.🐻🐻🐻
Our hearts go out to the people and animals affected by the terrible wildfires in California. We are appalled by the extent of destruction and salute the firefighters and volunteers who are battling tremendous odds to bring the fires under control.❤️
❤️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
I know this is a dumb question but, I always thought bears dug dens into the ground to hibernate. Why don't the cubs try doing it at ABR since they are outside? When they are released will they also stay above ground and find a new "day bed"?
Is it possible to “symbolically adopt” a cub and pay towards their care like the zoo does ?
They look so great! Thank you, ABR! I hope you will have news to share soon on how things are progressing with TWRA.
View more comments
January 12, 2025: Snow Day Cubs
Scruffy, Rags and Phoenix Bear enjoyed their snow day. Curator Katrina provided peanuts and acorns on top of the snow, but our cubs used their powerful sniffers to find plenty of treats under the snow too. A few inches of snow won't stop a cubby nose...especially one that's attached to a rumbly tummy!
Thank you for all you do for our cubs and for all of us at ABR. We couldn't do our work without YOU!
appalachianbearrescue.org/2024-bear-necessities-campaign/ ... See MoreSee Less
50 CommentsComment on Facebook
Amazed to see how well Phoenix's facial fur has come in. I was worried about his being released in winter, as small as he is. But I see that, though small, he has packed on a generous amount of fat that should see him through the winter. Thanks, ABR!
Love seeing them playing in the snow ❤️ and how chubby our boys are getting thank you fir all you do for them ❤️×13 angel bears 🐻 ❤️to Rags Scruffy and Phoenix
Seeing these cubs is the best part of my day. They are all so cute and precious 💕
View more comments
January 11, 2025: Snow Day
Curator Katrina was up early this morning to enjoy our 4-5 inches of beautiful snow. Katrina grew up in Wisconsin and definitely knows the value of using a good snow shovel. She shoveled the stepping stones, the front porch, and then headed out to shovel around the gate area. Our curators are working long shifts during the snow event. It's better to stay longer and have fewer folks driving on our southern snowy (and often unplowed) roads.
Maybe it was the excitement of southern snow that kept Rags Bear up late last night. Scruffy and Phoenix went to bed at Rags' Place, but Rags didn't make it home until just before midnight. When he finally settled in, he plopped down on top of Phoenix Bear. We assume that Phoenix enjoyed the benefit of a nice, warm fluffy blanket. He certainly didn't seem to object.
After shoveling around the office, Curator Katrina took peanuts and acorns down to Enclosure 1. There was plenty of food in there, but Katrina made sure there was a breakfast buffet on top of the snow. Scruffy and Phoenix readily accepted the invitation to breakfast. For Rags, it was late to bed and late to rise. Not to worry, though! Rags made it in time for Brunch. All three bears had plenty to eat and we believe they all know not to eat yellow snow!
Thank you for all you do to give our bears a second chance at life in the wild. We couldn't do our work without YOU! ... See MoreSee Less
35 CommentsComment on Facebook
Love! Love! Love seeing the little babies in the snow( well- Scruffy isn’t so little anymore but he’s still young and a baby) . Thank you, ABR, for all you do!
Thank you for the snowy update. A big thank you Curator Katrina for getting the snow cleaned off and taking care of our round little cubs. Glad all is well at ABR♥️🐻🐾
Wow, Katrina, I am impressed with your shoveling!
View more comments
January 11, 2025: Trillium Cove Visitor Center Closed Today
We have several inches of beautiful snow in our neck of the woods today. Our Trillium Cove Visitor Center will be closed again today. Stay safe out there and enjoy the snow!
We will post a cub update later today. ... See MoreSee Less
10 CommentsComment on Facebook
Snow is beautiful on post of cards - not where I am! Brrrr!! Stay warm!
I will be back in March. I need to add some more Cubs to my ABR Bear Photo Album.
Stay safe!
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Have a great weekend 🐻 ... See MoreSee Less
78 CommentsComment on Facebook
So do y'all have snow now
Hello Tori! Our snow is just starting here 🐻♥️🐻♥️🐻♥️
No snow yet?
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As a precaution, the ABR Trillium Cove Visitor Center will be CLOSED today. Snow is expected in our area soon and driving conditions will likely deteriorate.
We will make a decision about opening tomorrow (Saturday) based on road conditions in our area. STAY SAFE AND WARM! ... See MoreSee Less
30 CommentsComment on Facebook
Stay safe everyone 🥰🥰 keep warm sweet cubbies 🐻🐻
It's been snowing steadily for the last hour and a half in Cleveland. Please stay safe.
Everyone stay safe and warm.🐻
View more comments
ABR Daily Update - January 9, 2025 - An ABR Field Trip
Weather: 26°F(-3°C) Humidity 63%, Clear 🌔, Winter Storm Warning
Today, ABR’s staff took a field trip! ABR Board Member, Phil Colclough, is the Director of Animal Care, Conservation and Education for Zoo Knoxville and was kind enough to invite our staff out to the zoo for a behind-the-scenes tour and tortoise therapy session. Greg, Katrina, Seth and Jamie joined Phil and other Zoo Knoxville staff to discuss all things animal husbandry, enrichment and facility upkeep. At the end of their tour, Curators visited Al the Aldabra Giant Tortoise. Al is a longtime resident of Zoo Knoxville and believed to be about 150 years old! We want to extend a huge thank you to Phil and Zoo Knoxville for having our staff out today (and to Curator Tom who sat this one out to keep an eye on things at ABR’s own facility).
Townsend, as well as most of Tennessee and the surrounding states, is under a Winter Storm Warning. Beginning tomorrow morning, snow accumulation of 3-6 inches is possible, along with slick and hazardous conditions. Last week on Facebook Live, Tori and Greg talked about a bear’s ability to withstand the winter elements. They do this largely through two different types of pelage or fur. Guard hairs make up the coarse outer layer of hair that protects bears from moisture, while their down underfur protects and insulates them from the bitter cold. From the ABR archives, a picture of Aralia Bear from the Cub Class of 2020 portrays a great example of what the wool-like down hair looks like in comparison to the guard hairs.
Scruffy, Rags and Phoenix Bear have plenty of fur (and fat) to sit this winter storm out comfortably. Join Curator Tori at 12:30PM eastern tomorrow to see what they think of the incoming snow. Thank you for your support. ❤️❄️ ... See MoreSee Less
27 CommentsComment on Facebook
Thank you Big Al and Zoo Knoxville for inviting the ABR staff for a visit. Al is quite revered here. Thank you Curator Tom for holding down the fort at ABR. I hope we can see the boys having a snowball fight tomorrow. 🙏🏻🐻♥️x3 🙏🏻♥️ all ABR staff and followers 🙏🏻♥️ Big Al
Glad to see that the curators were able to have a much deserved field trip to the Knoxville Zoo. Can’t wait to see what new ideas they have for future bears. Thank you Curator Tom for keeping a watchful eye on our cub kids. We know our little round cubs will be warm in the snow with all that padding. Everyone stay safe and warm.♥️🐻🐾🙏🏻❄️
Curator Tom, thank you so much for always being willing to help however you are needed. ❤🐻🙏 Prayers for safety from the storm.
View more comments
ABR Daily Update-January 8, 2025-The Cardinal Chronicles
Weather: 28F( -2C) Humidity 70%, Mostly Cloudy☁️, Winter Storm Watch in Effect ... See MoreSee Less
66 CommentsComment on Facebook
Cardinals are the sign from loved ones. Maybe it is a sign from bears who crossed the rainbow bridge watching the 3 in enclosure 1
Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream need to introduce a new flavor and call it “Chubby Cubby!”
Beautiful video of the cardinals and Rags Bear 🐻 how could you not fall in love with that adorable face ❤️
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We are so sorry but Facebook Live is canceled today. Everything at the facility and with Scruffy, Rags and Phoenix is OK. Please stay tuned for a video update that will be posted shortly. We appreciate your patience. 🐻 ... See MoreSee Less
28 CommentsComment on Facebook
If the bears and staff are ok, we are okay!
No problem….all that matters is that bears and all at ABR are OK 🥰
Happy to hear that everything is ok with everybody at ABR ❤️
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