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.
Hello Greg and bear friends. Got some wonderful rain in Knoxville too 🐻😊
We have a big black Bear that uses our land as a track for him to the words
I’ve been following you a long time and often thought you should do more advocacy to stop the problems before you get the cubs and yearlings! I love this approach. We need to accept wildlife as neighbors and stop interfering where we can. More roadsigns to slow traffic, more wildlife bridges, better ways to eliminate and/or lock up human garbage. Part of the draw of tourism is to offer an opportunity to see wildlife. if you’re making money on this tourism, you should gets your ducks in a row and do it right. This includes the big businesses and the small airbnbs.
We hope everyone is having a nice holiday and staying safe in the intense heat. The cubs at ABR are having a very good day. They almost always have good days because you care!
Cubby decor is a "thing" around here. It's important to add natural items like branches and pools for cubs that must be housed in buildings. A generous donor delivered a new pool last week and Curators Jamie and Haley added it (and the woods) to Hartley House early this morning. Sundae, Homer, Diamond and Champ approve of their efforts.
Tots and Jackie Paper Bear are the new decor in Enclosure 1. Cubby meetings can take several days, but not for Jackie P and Tots. They entered Enclosure 1 on Tuesday and by yesterday, all five cubs were foraging and playing together. Jellybean, Daisy Mae and Duke Bear have destroyed a lot of the vegetation in Enclosure 1. We will give the five bears time to settle in together and the curators plan to open the gate to Enclosure 2. They will entice the cubs to move over to Enclosure 2 with some tasty treats. The cubs will follow their noses to the new Enclosure. Once they have moved, we will do what we can to get Enclosure 1 back into better shape.
Peeps, Casper and Shadow have lots of greenery in Enclosure 4. In fact, it's pretty hard to find them on the cams. But they can't hide forever...it's hot outside and they love their Cubby Pool.
SuBearu and Puff Bear still have HVAC to keep them comfortable. And speaking of HVAC, Curator Jamie noticed one day last week that the AC wasn't kicking on in the Recovery Center. We called our friends at Roger L Newman Co Heating and Cooling and they were at the bear facility first thing the next morning. It turns out a stick had fallen into the fan blades and was preventing the blades from turning. It was just a small stick and was wedged out of sight so we didn't see it. Greg Newman at Roger L Newman Co Heating and Cooling had everything working again in record time. We sincerely appreciate their help!
SuBearu is not letting a little broken tibia slow her down very much. Puff Bear keeps SuBearu entertained and today, SuBearu was queen of the Cub Tub.
Happy 4th of July to all humans and bears at ABR! So glad that everyone is managing so well in this super hot weather. Right now it is 97 in Knoxville with a heat index of 105. I am concerned for the people attending the festivities at Worlds Fair Park this evening and tonight. That was awesome of the HVAC people coming to the rescue so quickly once again. Also many thanks to whoever donated the pool. STAY COOL! 🙏🏻🐻♥️x14
I loved watching the cubbies duking it out in the outdoor pool. They are so funny.
Jellybean has his very own real live Teddy bear. Size difference is amazing.
I swear, I'm not crying---as I dry my eyes! Thank y'all for all that you do for these babies! So precious!
Glad to see Tots and Jackie P in a Wild Enclosure. I hope big boy Jelly Bean doesn’t sit on Jackie P! 🙏🏻🐻♥️🐻♥️
Brave Tots Bear! I liked watching her nibble at the clover flowers, but she wasn’t actually eating them! I think she was mentally/orally marking the new environment? It was also very good to see two cubs unafraid of the cubby pool! I always find it so interesting why some cubs just take to the pools, but others either reject it totally; only use it when none of the other cubs are around; or prefer the drinking tub (one cub size). Curious as to why there was only enough water in the pool to get part of their bottoms & their paws wet? Did Daisy May, Duke & Jellybean splash all the water out? LOL! Things have been extremely dry in Buncombe County, NC, so maybe conserving water is needed in Townsend, TN?
SuBearu and Tots went to UTCVM-University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine today for a follow-up examination. Tots passed with flying colors and is ready for release to a wild enclosure. Unfortunately, SuBearu’s results were not as good. Though her broken femur has healed well, the vets discovered that sometime during the last week or so, SuBearu fractured the tibia in her right back leg. How and when this happened is unknown; we’re reviewing hours of video to see if we can spot the moment. Our first thought was that she might be suffering from a bone disease that made her prone to fractures (sadly, we’ve seen that in past residents), but the vets didn’t think this was likely. After an hour in surgery, where a plate was inserted to help her tibia heal, SuBearu was released back to our care.
At present, SuBearu is in the Recovery Center, but she isn’t alone. The curators moved Puff to be with her while she recovers. The cubs were unhappy to be separated, and reuniting them calmed both. SuBearu is taking antibiotics and pain management medications and will likely be in the Recovery Center for several weeks. We’re sad and disappointed for her; she won’t be able to go to a wild enclosure as soon as we’d hoped. We’ll try to make her recovery as pleasant as possible. 🐻🤞
Our other bears are well, and we’ll feature them in tomorrow’s update. Sundae still hasn’t integrated with Homer, Diamond, and Champ, but there’s no rush and no pressure. Tots is very happy to be back with Jackie Paper, and we hope they’ll be outside soon. 🐻🐻
We wish all our Canadian friends a Happy Canada Day! 🇨🇦
All fourteen of our bears are now available for virtual adoption (USA orders only). Please click on the link below. ��
I am so happy for Tots but so sad about little SuBearu’s situation. Is this the opposite leg? I am glad that Puff is able to be with SuBearu in the Recovery Center. I hope Sundae will be friends with the triplets soon, but we all know that bears go by bear time and not human time 🙏🏻🐻♥️x14
Thank you for the update on our sweet bear family ❤️💕 Got my package today as I looked at all the adoption stuff I was moved to tears and so happy I was able to help these sweet babies and all of you for taking caring of them ❤️❤️
Hoping Subearu bear makes a recovery from this...Puff needs the company too. Maybe the perfect roommates.
Our fourteen cubs are always busy doing something. In Wild Enclosure #1, Jellybean Bear decided he didn’t want the Safety Log in the Cubby Pool. This isn’t unusual; sooner or later, most bears remove the safety logs. Some, like former resident Piccola Bear, devote every waking hour to the project. Others, like Jellybean, are more pragmatic. When he couldn’t get the log out, he sat on it until it sank to the bottom of the pool. It got the job done, at least until the log floats back to the surface. 🐻👏
Peeps, Shadow, and Casper seem to appreciate their Safety Log a lot more. They use it to access the water and dive from it into the pool. We wonder if, one day soon, they’ll want to remove it too.🤔
Sundae Bear and Homer, Diamond, and Champ are very slowly getting used to one another. The curators lowered the gate overnight, separating the cubs from each other until this morning. With two curators watching, they raised the gate and are letting Sundae proceed at her own pace. Homer, Diamond, and Champ have each other; they don’t need another cub. That could explain why they’re not curious about the new girl or in any rush to meet her. Sundae, on the other hand, is alone and is attracted to the cubs. She’s just playing it safe. This group seems timid; we don’t have one of those gregarious cubs who just barge in wherever they want and pretty much force their friendship.
There is a size difference between Tots and Jackie Paper, but it doesn’t keep them from wrestling and playing together. Tots and SuBearu are scheduled to return to UTCVM-University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine this week for what we hope is their final examination.
Speaking of SuBearu, she and Puff had a great time this morning exploring the newly decorated Acclimation Pen. The curators work hard to keep the cubs fed, clean, and amused.
🧸All fourteen of our bears are now available for virtual adoption (USA orders only). Please click on the link below. ��https://appalachian-bear-rescue.myshopify.com/
❤️Please consider donating to Appalachian Bear Rescue’s Room in Your Heart Campaign:
Love seeing that all bear babies seem to be doing well. I pray that both Tots and SuBearu get medically released this coming week. It will be so good when little Sundae Bear can once again experience being with other cubs. Hoping all humans and bears stay cool 🙏🏻🐻♥️x14
The descriptions are terrific! Seems all is well!
Looks like all the cubbies are having a fun day Sunday ❤️
We have lots of cubs in residence. Fourteen to be exact, all about five months old. Our most recent arrivals are getting used to life at ABR; the three siblings, Diamond,Homer, and Champ, are doing well in Hartley House. Sundae Bear, who arrived on the same day, wasn’t tolerating The Recovery Center as well as we’d hoped. The curators decided to move her to Hartley House where she could be introduced to Homer and company. Little bears do better in captivity when in the company of other little bears. It’s been hours since the move, and everyone is playing it very cool. The triplets ignored Sundae and though she seemed curious about them, it’s too soon for her to venture into their room. The curators oversee these introductions carefully; they want to make sure the cubs are safe. If a curator has to leave for any reason, they close the gate, separating the rooms and the cubs. Watching the cubs is a two-person job. 👨🏽👩🏻
Everyone else is doing well. Cubs are natural born athletes, and excel at climbing, swimming, wrestling, and demolition. If ABR offered athletic scholarships, every one of our fourteen residents would get one. Sadly, the ABR prizes in Cubby Math, Literature and Philosophy have not been awarded since we opened in 1996. They keep eating the books. 📕🐻
I'm so glad that the four newbies are all doing well and look forward to reading soon that Sundae has joined the triplets in play and general mayhem. I guess the ABR prizes in Cubby Math, Literature and Philosophy are just gathering dust on shelves then? 😍
I hope Sundae has a successful meeting with the triplets! Everycub needs company! Glad to hear everyone else (ursine and human) are well. Thanks for the update on our precious bears 🐻
You all do such a great job with the cubbies. A big heartfelt thank you to all involved ❤️
Thank you for your generous support of the Appalachian Bear Rescue Room In Your Heart Campaign. Dollar by dollar, we will reach our campaign goal and give cubs like SuBearu Bear a second chance at life in the wild.
Join us for an update on the 14 cubs and some more discussion about how to make your community in Tennessee more BearWise ... See MoreSee Less
21 CommentsComment on Facebook
Hello Greg and bear friends. Got some wonderful rain in Knoxville too 🐻😊
We have a big black Bear that uses our land as a track for him to the words
I’ve been following you a long time and often thought you should do more advocacy to stop the problems before you get the cubs and yearlings! I love this approach. We need to accept wildlife as neighbors and stop interfering where we can. More roadsigns to slow traffic, more wildlife bridges, better ways to eliminate and/or lock up human garbage. Part of the draw of tourism is to offer an opportunity to see wildlife. if you’re making money on this tourism, you should gets your ducks in a row and do it right. This includes the big businesses and the small airbnbs.
View more comments
Happy Independence Day!
We hope everyone is having a nice holiday and staying safe in the intense heat. The cubs at ABR are having a very good day. They almost always have good days because you care!
Cubby decor is a "thing" around here. It's important to add natural items like branches and pools for cubs that must be housed in buildings. A generous donor delivered a new pool last week and Curators Jamie and Haley added it (and the woods) to Hartley House early this morning. Sundae, Homer, Diamond and Champ approve of their efforts.
Tots and Jackie Paper Bear are the new decor in Enclosure 1. Cubby meetings can take several days, but not for Jackie P and Tots. They entered Enclosure 1 on Tuesday and by yesterday, all five cubs were foraging and playing together. Jellybean, Daisy Mae and Duke Bear have destroyed a lot of the vegetation in Enclosure 1. We will give the five bears time to settle in together and the curators plan to open the gate to Enclosure 2. They will entice the cubs to move over to Enclosure 2 with some tasty treats. The cubs will follow their noses to the new Enclosure. Once they have moved, we will do what we can to get Enclosure 1 back into better shape.
Peeps, Casper and Shadow have lots of greenery in Enclosure 4. In fact, it's pretty hard to find them on the cams. But they can't hide forever...it's hot outside and they love their Cubby Pool.
SuBearu and Puff Bear still have HVAC to keep them comfortable. And speaking of HVAC, Curator Jamie noticed one day last week that the AC wasn't kicking on in the Recovery Center. We called our friends at Roger L Newman Co Heating and Cooling and they were at the bear facility first thing the next morning. It turns out a stick had fallen into the fan blades and was preventing the blades from turning. It was just a small stick and was wedged out of sight so we didn't see it. Greg Newman at Roger L Newman Co Heating and Cooling had everything working again in record time. We sincerely appreciate their help!
SuBearu is not letting a little broken tibia slow her down very much. Puff Bear keeps SuBearu entertained and today, SuBearu was queen of the Cub Tub.
Thank you for keeping our cubs in your heart. You give them a second chance at life in the wild where they belong.
appalachianbearrescue.org/room-in-your-heart-campaign/ ... See MoreSee Less
53 CommentsComment on Facebook
Happy 4th of July to all humans and bears at ABR! So glad that everyone is managing so well in this super hot weather. Right now it is 97 in Knoxville with a heat index of 105. I am concerned for the people attending the festivities at Worlds Fair Park this evening and tonight. That was awesome of the HVAC people coming to the rescue so quickly once again. Also many thanks to whoever donated the pool. STAY COOL! 🙏🏻🐻♥️x14
I loved watching the cubbies duking it out in the outdoor pool. They are so funny.
Jellybean has his very own real live Teddy bear. Size difference is amazing.
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Join Greg for an update on the 14 ABR cubs and a discussion of current human-bear conflict in our local area ... See MoreSee Less
35 CommentsComment on Facebook
When is it going to get through to people the bears are wild animals. That they are putting the bears lives in danger.
Great information, thanks Greg!
Great info!!! Thank you!!! Gonna write my state reps now!!!🙂
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July 2nd 2024: Tots and Jackie P. go outside! 🥳🐻🌳 ... See MoreSee Less
72 CommentsComment on Facebook
I swear, I'm not crying---as I dry my eyes! Thank y'all for all that you do for these babies! So precious!
Glad to see Tots and Jackie P in a Wild Enclosure. I hope big boy Jelly Bean doesn’t sit on Jackie P! 🙏🏻🐻♥️🐻♥️
Brave Tots Bear! I liked watching her nibble at the clover flowers, but she wasn’t actually eating them! I think she was mentally/orally marking the new environment? It was also very good to see two cubs unafraid of the cubby pool! I always find it so interesting why some cubs just take to the pools, but others either reject it totally; only use it when none of the other cubs are around; or prefer the drinking tub (one cub size). Curious as to why there was only enough water in the pool to get part of their bottoms & their paws wet? Did Daisy May, Duke & Jellybean splash all the water out? LOL! Things have been extremely dry in Buncombe County, NC, so maybe conserving water is needed in Townsend, TN?
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ABR Daily Update-July 1, 2024-SuBearu and Tots go to UTCVM-University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine 🐻🐻
Weather: 83F (28C) Humidity 47%, Sunny 🌞
SuBearu and Tots went to UTCVM-University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine today for a follow-up examination. Tots passed with flying colors and is ready for release to a wild enclosure. Unfortunately, SuBearu’s results were not as good. Though her broken femur has healed well, the vets discovered that sometime during the last week or so, SuBearu fractured the tibia in her right back leg. How and when this happened is unknown; we’re reviewing hours of video to see if we can spot the moment. Our first thought was that she might be suffering from a bone disease that made her prone to fractures (sadly, we’ve seen that in past residents), but the vets didn’t think this was likely. After an hour in surgery, where a plate was inserted to help her tibia heal, SuBearu was released back to our care.
At present, SuBearu is in the Recovery Center, but she isn’t alone. The curators moved Puff to be with her while she recovers. The cubs were unhappy to be separated, and reuniting them calmed both. SuBearu is taking antibiotics and pain management medications and will likely be in the Recovery Center for several weeks. We’re sad and disappointed for her; she won’t be able to go to a wild enclosure as soon as we’d hoped. We’ll try to make her recovery as pleasant as possible. 🐻🤞
Our other bears are well, and we’ll feature them in tomorrow’s update. Sundae still hasn’t integrated with Homer, Diamond, and Champ, but there’s no rush and no pressure. Tots is very happy to be back with Jackie Paper, and we hope they’ll be outside soon. 🐻🐻
We wish all our Canadian friends a Happy Canada Day! 🇨🇦
All fourteen of our bears are now available for virtual adoption (USA orders only). Please click on the link below. ��
appalachian-bear-rescue.myshopify.com/
❤️Please consider donating to Appalachian Bear Rescue’s Room in Your Heart Campaign:
appalachianbearrescue.org/room-in-your-heart-campaign/
🎉Our Visitor & Education Center at Trillium Cove is open! Please click on the link for more information:
appalachianbearrescue.org/contact-us/
🛑bearwise.org offers excellent information on what black bears are up to at this time of year and what to do if you hike or live in “Bear Country”.
*We post one update daily, seven days a week. ... See MoreSee Less
73 CommentsComment on Facebook
I am so happy for Tots but so sad about little SuBearu’s situation. Is this the opposite leg? I am glad that Puff is able to be with SuBearu in the Recovery Center. I hope Sundae will be friends with the triplets soon, but we all know that bears go by bear time and not human time 🙏🏻🐻♥️x14
Thank you for the update on our sweet bear family ❤️💕 Got my package today as I looked at all the adoption stuff I was moved to tears and so happy I was able to help these sweet babies and all of you for taking caring of them ❤️❤️
Hoping Subearu bear makes a recovery from this...Puff needs the company too. Maybe the perfect roommates.
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ABR Daily Update-June 30, 2024-Busy 🐻
Weather: 85F (29C) Humidity 72%, Partly cloudy 🌤️
Our fourteen cubs are always busy doing something. In Wild Enclosure #1, Jellybean Bear decided he didn’t want the Safety Log in the Cubby Pool. This isn’t unusual; sooner or later, most bears remove the safety logs. Some, like former resident Piccola Bear, devote every waking hour to the project. Others, like Jellybean, are more pragmatic. When he couldn’t get the log out, he sat on it until it sank to the bottom of the pool. It got the job done, at least until the log floats back to the surface. 🐻👏
Peeps, Shadow, and Casper seem to appreciate their Safety Log a lot more. They use it to access the water and dive from it into the pool. We wonder if, one day soon, they’ll want to remove it too.🤔
Sundae Bear and Homer, Diamond, and Champ are very slowly getting used to one another. The curators lowered the gate overnight, separating the cubs from each other until this morning. With two curators watching, they raised the gate and are letting Sundae proceed at her own pace. Homer, Diamond, and Champ have each other; they don’t need another cub. That could explain why they’re not curious about the new girl or in any rush to meet her. Sundae, on the other hand, is alone and is attracted to the cubs. She’s just playing it safe. This group seems timid; we don’t have one of those gregarious cubs who just barge in wherever they want and pretty much force their friendship.
There is a size difference between Tots and Jackie Paper, but it doesn’t keep them from wrestling and playing together. Tots and SuBearu are scheduled to return to UTCVM-University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine this week for what we hope is their final examination.
Speaking of SuBearu, she and Puff had a great time this morning exploring the newly decorated Acclimation Pen. The curators work hard to keep the cubs fed, clean, and amused.
🧸All fourteen of our bears are now available for virtual adoption (USA orders only). Please click on the link below. ��https://appalachian-bear-rescue.myshopify.com/
❤️Please consider donating to Appalachian Bear Rescue’s Room in Your Heart Campaign:
appalachianbearrescue.org/room-in-your-heart-campaign/
🎉Our Visitor & Education Center at Trillium Cove is open! Please click on the link for more information:
appalachianbearrescue.org/contact-us/
🛑bearwise.org offers excellent information on what black bears are up to at this time of year and what to do if you hike or live in “Bear Country”.
*We post one update daily, seven days a week. ... See MoreSee Less
38 CommentsComment on Facebook
Love seeing that all bear babies seem to be doing well. I pray that both Tots and SuBearu get medically released this coming week. It will be so good when little Sundae Bear can once again experience being with other cubs. Hoping all humans and bears stay cool 🙏🏻🐻♥️x14
The descriptions are terrific! Seems all is well!
Looks like all the cubbies are having a fun day Sunday ❤️
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ABR Daily Update-June 29, 2024-Athletic Cubs 🐻💪
Weather: 86F (30C) Humidity 68%, Mostly Cloudy 🌥️
We have lots of cubs in residence. Fourteen to be exact, all about five months old. Our most recent arrivals are getting used to life at ABR; the three siblings, Diamond,Homer, and Champ, are doing well in Hartley House. Sundae Bear, who arrived on the same day, wasn’t tolerating The Recovery Center as well as we’d hoped. The curators decided to move her to Hartley House where she could be introduced to Homer and company. Little bears do better in captivity when in the company of other little bears. It’s been hours since the move, and everyone is playing it very cool. The triplets ignored Sundae and though she seemed curious about them, it’s too soon for her to venture into their room. The curators oversee these introductions carefully; they want to make sure the cubs are safe. If a curator has to leave for any reason, they close the gate, separating the rooms and the cubs. Watching the cubs is a two-person job. 👨🏽👩🏻
Everyone else is doing well. Cubs are natural born athletes, and excel at climbing, swimming, wrestling, and demolition. If ABR offered athletic scholarships, every one of our fourteen residents would get one. Sadly, the ABR prizes in Cubby Math, Literature and Philosophy have not been awarded since we opened in 1996. They keep eating the books. 📕🐻
❤️Thank you for helping our fourteen little bears become the star athletes they were meant to be.
Please consider donating to Appalachian Bear Rescue’s Room in Your Heart Campaign:
appalachianbearrescue.org/room-in-your-heart-campaign/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3vePV97NLKlnIe6...
🎉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
28 CommentsComment on Facebook
I'm so glad that the four newbies are all doing well and look forward to reading soon that Sundae has joined the triplets in play and general mayhem. I guess the ABR prizes in Cubby Math, Literature and Philosophy are just gathering dust on shelves then? 😍
I hope Sundae has a successful meeting with the triplets! Everycub needs company! Glad to hear everyone else (ursine and human) are well. Thanks for the update on our precious bears 🐻
You all do such a great job with the cubbies. A big heartfelt thank you to all involved ❤️
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Thank you for your generous support of the Appalachian Bear Rescue Room In Your Heart Campaign. Dollar by dollar, we will reach our campaign goal and give cubs like SuBearu Bear a second chance at life in the wild.
Thank you for keeping SuBearu and our thirteen other cubs in your heart. appalachianbearrescue.org/room-in-your-heart-campaign/ ... See MoreSee Less
10 CommentsComment on Facebook
I think this is a wonderful rescue. When a bear is hit by a car can they actually help the injured bear or is it put down?
Sharing with Friends on Facebook. Happy Saturday Everyone. 🥰🥰🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻
Just made a late donation thru Humana Together..
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Have a great weekend!
-🐻x14 ... See MoreSee Less
79 CommentsComment on Facebook
Those sweet babies. I am so glad they are in your care! Sending love from Atlanta!
Thank you Tori! Everyone have a safe and cool weekend! Hopefully some rain here in bear country 🙏🏻🐻♥️
Love what you guys do for these bears
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