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.
Day #3 of voting in the 2024 Chubby Cubby Chonk Down is now open on our Facebook and Instagram stories! Congrats to Fuzzy, Bubbles, Daisy Mae, Jackie P., Peeps, Duke, Special Sauce, and Scruffy Bear for making it through the second day. Please see the updated bracket below. Curator Tori will be going LIVE on Facebook this afternoon at 2:30PM eastern. "See" you there. 😄 ... See MoreSee Less
Not sure how I missed this. I guess FB was too busy showing me ads. Those little cubbies have done a splendid job of fatifying ❤️
Help! I hadn't tried to vote because I don't do instagram, but just realized you're doing it on facebook, too... So I watched the instructions. My home page for you looks nothing like the home page you showed...and there is no "stories" option. Anywhere. Also, I can't post a pic of what I see because that is apparently disabled. I'm so sad that I can't vote on our adorable cubbies!
Scruffy and Rags Bear are feeling better and getting stronger every day. We've noticed that they are playing more and sleeping less. Yesterday, we even saw little Rags Bear pounce his brother! All those things are very good signs.
All the other bears at ABR are doing well. Tori will talk more about everyone tomorrow on Facebook Live.
Day #2 of voting for the 2024 Chubby Cubby Champion is now open on our Facebook and Instagram stories! Congrats to SuBearu Bear, Sundae, Puff, Patty, Jellybean, Velma, and Rags for making it through the first day.🐻🎉 Today, you will be voting in the match-ups on the right side of the bracket. As a reminder, we believe that ALL of our bear cubs are winners, regardless of votes. ☺️ Have fun!! ... See MoreSee Less
I only get presented with four match-ups to choose from.
Such a beautiful bear. An extremely sad way for her life to end. I hope the impact killed her instantly and she did not suffer x
I used my iPad. Went to ABR FB page. Put my finger on the profile picture. Then went down and hit Stories. That took me directly to the voting page. You need to hold your finger on the screen to freeze it until you can read about each set of bears then take your finger off and vote. So simple 🐻♥️
The 5th annual Chubby Cubby Chonk Down is HERE!! 🐻⚖️🏆
Join Appalachian Bear Rescue in another competitive year of chonky cubbies. Inspired by the National Park Service’s Fat Bear Week in Katmai National Park, Appalachian Bear Rescue hosts their own Chonk Down to honor the bear cubs that are currently at their rescue facility. Just as wild black bears need to feast and forage in the fall, bear cubs at ABR also consume more calories right before the natural denning period takes place in the wild (which is also when most of the bear cubs are released). The more fat reserves that a bear has before entering their den in the winter, the better! - And our cubs aren’t shy!!
Starting tomorrow, you will be able to vote every day for who YOU think is the current, chonkiest ABR resident. Pictures and information about the various cubby match-ups will be posted daily to our stories on Facebook and Instagram. Please participate by voting on our Facebook and Instagram stories. Only the cubs with the most votes will advance forward. Since we are not able to actually weigh the bear cubs until their release dates, all votes will be based on the provided pictures and video. For those that need a refresher, Curator Tori will go over voting instructions during Facebook Live tomorrow afternoon at 12:30PM. Good luck to this year's chonky cubbies!! 🐻
**As the newest and smallest cubs, Scruffy and Rags don't face any "real" opponents until the second or third day of voting** ... See MoreSee Less
Poor Scruffy and Rags. They ARE fatter than the acorns they eat, but still very small for their age. Thanks for giving them a chance!
Will most of these bears get released this year, or wait until next year??
I was trying to remember when a bear named Acorns arrived. Then I was trying to figure out why Rags and Scuffy were pitted against the same bear. Oy vey. I guess I should have finished reading the blog before perusing the combatants.
ABR Daily Update-October 22, 2024-It’s Cubby Birthday! 🎂🐻
Weather: 69F (21C) Humidity 49%, Sunny 🌞
Appalachian Bear Rescue chose January 22 as the “official” birthdate for all bears who come to us, as it falls roughly midway in the range of possible birthdates. Today, our twenty-eight resident cubs turn nine months old! Thanks to your generosity and compassion, they are thriving. A tip of the hat to ABR’s Executive Director, Dana Dodd, who spent the last couple of days capturing a photo of every cub in residence using our security cams. Cubs are terrible models (no discipline, with an attention span the length of an acorn) so it’s astonishing Dana got them all. 👏
For the third day in a row, our recent arrivals, Rags and Scruffy, didn’t produce any signs of parasites. The first course of deworming medication worked, and both bears are more energetic. Even little Rags started the day by bopping his brother a couple of times, a good sign. 🐻🐻
As far as we know, bears don’t celebrate birthdays, but we do—every month, without fail. Happy Birthday, cubs! Happy twenty-one-month birthday to Spruce Bear, wherever you are. On this day, we also remember those who didn’t get to see it. We wish them peace.🐻❤️
🗓️Our 2025 calendars are available for purchase at our online store along with other items unique to ABR. We’ sorry, but orders are restricted to the USA only. Please click on the link below. appalachian-bear-rescue.myshopify.com/
What wonderful photos of our birthday bears! Thank you for your hard work Dana!
Happy Birthday to all ABR residents, past and present, and to those who are celebrating across the Rainbow Bridge.
🙏🏻🐻♥️x28 plus curators
Happy birthday to all ABR bears both current and former residents. We also remember the dear departed bears who didn't make it. May they always have full tummies over the Rainbow Bridge.
Happy Birthday to all the little bears🎈Thank you ABR for taking such great care of them. They all are looking good ❤️🐻❤️🐻
ABR Daily Update-October 21, 2024-Big and Small 🐻🐻
Weather: 72F (22C) Humidity 42%, Sunny 🌞
Life in the wild is harsh, and survival depends on the daily effort to find food. Scruffy and Rag’s family was having a tough time finding enough to eat long before the siblings arrived at ABR. Bears are competitive, even cubs; if there’s little to eat, one sibling often takes what there is—sometimes all of it. This may be one factor that accounts for the difference in size between the brothers.
Our friends may remember Annie and her brother, Oscar, who came to ABR in 2013. Oscar was a giant compared to his sister, and because they had been food-deprived for so long, Oscar treated any food we offered as if it were the last he’d ever get. He took it all, intimidating Annie, and preventing her from eating, even though there was always more than enough. The curators separated them, introducing Annie to Boston (a gentle cub) who she lived with until she grew big enough to hold her own with Oscar.🐻🐻
Scruffy isn’t physically preventing Rags from eating, but he’s much bigger and recovering much faster. He races from bowl to bowl, vacuuming up the food before Rags can get to it. Last night, Curator Tom decided to separate the brothers at feeding time to give the much slower Rags a chance. The cubs weren’t as upset by their separation as we’d expected, and as soon as they finished eating, they were reunited. The curators are watching closely to ensure Rags gets all the food he wants. At present, they don’t need to separate the cubs; as competitive as Scruffy might be, he needs Rags just as much as Rags needs him. This afternoon, the cubs foraged together in the Cubby Pool for nuts and fell asleep side by side. 🐻🐻💤
Our other 26 cubs are doing exceptional well, and we’ll feature them in tomorrow’s post.
🗓️Our 2025 calendars are available for purchase at our online store along with other items unique to ABR. We’ sorry, but orders are restricted to the USA only. Please click on the link below. appalachian-bear-rescue.myshopify.com/
I remember with the Beary Triplets, one was much smaller than the other 3 so for a little bit they were separated so he could eat. And Beignet and Bordeaux, he was much bigger and she was put with the smaller Beary Triplet. If I'm remembering correctly. It's been a bit but I think I'm right. Am I?
As Tom cleans, I'm wondering how the parasite situation is going.
Glad to see the cubs are active,do they realize it’s time to pack on the pounds without their mom to tell them.?
DONATE TODAY!!
Please join Curator Tori for a Facebook Live update on the 28 bear cubs at Appalachian Bear Rescue! 🐻 ... See MoreSee Less
45 CommentsComment on Facebook
Thank you Curator Tori 🐻♥️
Good Friday afternoon Curator Tori and bear friends 🐻😊
Looks like one of the bears on the right is getting a nice ear licking from his buddy
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Day #3 of voting in the 2024 Chubby Cubby Chonk Down is now open on our Facebook and Instagram stories! Congrats to Fuzzy, Bubbles, Daisy Mae, Jackie P., Peeps, Duke, Special Sauce, and Scruffy Bear for making it through the second day. Please see the updated bracket below. Curator Tori will be going LIVE on Facebook this afternoon at 2:30PM eastern. "See" you there. 😄 ... See MoreSee Less
5 CommentsComment on Facebook
Not sure how I missed this. I guess FB was too busy showing me ads. Those little cubbies have done a splendid job of fatifying ❤️
Help! I hadn't tried to vote because I don't do instagram, but just realized you're doing it on facebook, too... So I watched the instructions. My home page for you looks nothing like the home page you showed...and there is no "stories" option. Anywhere. Also, I can't post a pic of what I see because that is apparently disabled. I'm so sad that I can't vote on our adorable cubbies!
Voted, Share. 🐻🐻🐻🐻❤️
View more comments
October 24, 2024: When Your Brother Is a Pest
Scruffy and Rags Bear are feeling better and getting stronger every day. We've noticed that they are playing more and sleeping less. Yesterday, we even saw little Rags Bear pounce his brother! All those things are very good signs.
All the other bears at ABR are doing well. Tori will talk more about everyone tomorrow on Facebook Live.
Thank you for keeping our bears in your heart. You provide the Bear Necessities and give them a second chance.
appalachianbearrescue.org/2024-bear-necessities-campaign/ ... See MoreSee Less
45 CommentsComment on Facebook
Rags still looks so small in comparison to Scruffy.
So happy for the continued good news on Scruffy and Rags, especially little Rags 🙏🏻🐻♥️x28 plus curators
That was some serious wrastlin'! Good sign indeed! And I want my own NAPB to use as a lounge chair too!
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Day #2 of voting for the 2024 Chubby Cubby Champion is now open on our Facebook and Instagram stories! Congrats to SuBearu Bear, Sundae, Puff, Patty, Jellybean, Velma, and Rags for making it through the first day.🐻🎉 Today, you will be voting in the match-ups on the right side of the bracket. As a reminder, we believe that ALL of our bear cubs are winners, regardless of votes. ☺️ Have fun!! ... See MoreSee Less
1 CommentComment on Facebook
Voted today!!! 🐻🐻🐾🐾❤️💛🩵
Join Tori as she walks us through how voting ON INSTAGRAM will work in the 2024 Chubby Cubby Chonk Down competition. 🐻 ... See MoreSee Less
8 CommentsComment on Facebook
I only get presented with four match-ups to choose from.
Such a beautiful bear. An extremely sad way for her life to end. I hope the impact killed her instantly and she did not suffer x
I used my iPad. Went to ABR FB page. Put my finger on the profile picture. Then went down and hit Stories. That took me directly to the voting page. You need to hold your finger on the screen to freeze it until you can read about each set of bears then take your finger off and vote. So simple 🐻♥️
View more comments
Join Tori as she walks us through how voting ON FACEBOOK will work in the 2024 Chubby Cubby Chonk Down competition. 🐻 ... See MoreSee Less
4 CommentsComment on Facebook
Helloooo Curator Tori. Thanks for sharing about the Chubby Cubby Chonk Down!! 😃
Oh boy Chubby Cubby Chonk Down 🐻♥️
Good day everyone!
The 5th annual Chubby Cubby Chonk Down is HERE!! 🐻⚖️🏆
Join Appalachian Bear Rescue in another competitive year of chonky cubbies. Inspired by the National Park Service’s Fat Bear Week in Katmai National Park, Appalachian Bear Rescue hosts their own Chonk Down to honor the bear cubs that are currently at their rescue facility. Just as wild black bears need to feast and forage in the fall, bear cubs at ABR also consume more calories right before the natural denning period takes place in the wild (which is also when most of the bear cubs are released). The more fat reserves that a bear has before entering their den in the winter, the better! - And our cubs aren’t shy!!
Starting tomorrow, you will be able to vote every day for who YOU think is the current, chonkiest ABR resident. Pictures and information about the various cubby match-ups will be posted daily to our stories on Facebook and Instagram. Please participate by voting on our Facebook and Instagram stories. Only the cubs with the most votes will advance forward. Since we are not able to actually weigh the bear cubs until their release dates, all votes will be based on the provided pictures and video. For those that need a refresher, Curator Tori will go over voting instructions during Facebook Live tomorrow afternoon at 12:30PM. Good luck to this year's chonky cubbies!! 🐻
**As the newest and smallest cubs, Scruffy and Rags don't face any "real" opponents until the second or third day of voting** ... See MoreSee Less
29 CommentsComment on Facebook
Poor Scruffy and Rags. They ARE fatter than the acorns they eat, but still very small for their age. Thanks for giving them a chance!
Will most of these bears get released this year, or wait until next year??
I was trying to remember when a bear named Acorns arrived. Then I was trying to figure out why Rags and Scuffy were pitted against the same bear. Oy vey. I guess I should have finished reading the blog before perusing the combatants.
View more comments
ABR Daily Update-October 22, 2024-It’s Cubby Birthday! 🎂🐻
Weather: 69F (21C) Humidity 49%, Sunny 🌞
Appalachian Bear Rescue chose January 22 as the “official” birthdate for all bears who come to us, as it falls roughly midway in the range of possible birthdates. Today, our twenty-eight resident cubs turn nine months old! Thanks to your generosity and compassion, they are thriving. A tip of the hat to ABR’s Executive Director, Dana Dodd, who spent the last couple of days capturing a photo of every cub in residence using our security cams. Cubs are terrible models (no discipline, with an attention span the length of an acorn) so it’s astonishing Dana got them all. 👏
For the third day in a row, our recent arrivals, Rags and Scruffy, didn’t produce any signs of parasites. The first course of deworming medication worked, and both bears are more energetic. Even little Rags started the day by bopping his brother a couple of times, a good sign. 🐻🐻
As far as we know, bears don’t celebrate birthdays, but we do—every month, without fail. Happy Birthday, cubs! Happy twenty-one-month birthday to Spruce Bear, wherever you are. On this day, we also remember those who didn’t get to see it. We wish them peace.🐻❤️
🗓️Our 2025 calendars are available for purchase at our online store along with other items unique to ABR. We’ sorry, but orders are restricted to the USA 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
93 CommentsComment on Facebook
What wonderful photos of our birthday bears! Thank you for your hard work Dana! Happy Birthday to all ABR residents, past and present, and to those who are celebrating across the Rainbow Bridge. 🙏🏻🐻♥️x28 plus curators
Happy birthday to all ABR bears both current and former residents. We also remember the dear departed bears who didn't make it. May they always have full tummies over the Rainbow Bridge.
Happy Birthday to all the little bears🎈Thank you ABR for taking such great care of them. They all are looking good ❤️🐻❤️🐻
View more comments
ABR Daily Update-October 21, 2024-Big and Small 🐻🐻
Weather: 72F (22C) Humidity 42%, Sunny 🌞
Life in the wild is harsh, and survival depends on the daily effort to find food. Scruffy and Rag’s family was having a tough time finding enough to eat long before the siblings arrived at ABR. Bears are competitive, even cubs; if there’s little to eat, one sibling often takes what there is—sometimes all of it. This may be one factor that accounts for the difference in size between the brothers.
Our friends may remember Annie and her brother, Oscar, who came to ABR in 2013. Oscar was a giant compared to his sister, and because they had been food-deprived for so long, Oscar treated any food we offered as if it were the last he’d ever get. He took it all, intimidating Annie, and preventing her from eating, even though there was always more than enough. The curators separated them, introducing Annie to Boston (a gentle cub) who she lived with until she grew big enough to hold her own with Oscar.🐻🐻
Scruffy isn’t physically preventing Rags from eating, but he’s much bigger and recovering much faster. He races from bowl to bowl, vacuuming up the food before Rags can get to it. Last night, Curator Tom decided to separate the brothers at feeding time to give the much slower Rags a chance. The cubs weren’t as upset by their separation as we’d expected, and as soon as they finished eating, they were reunited. The curators are watching closely to ensure Rags gets all the food he wants. At present, they don’t need to separate the cubs; as competitive as Scruffy might be, he needs Rags just as much as Rags needs him. This afternoon, the cubs foraged together in the Cubby Pool for nuts and fell asleep side by side. 🐻🐻💤
Our other 26 cubs are doing exceptional well, and we’ll feature them in tomorrow’s post.
🗓️Our 2025 calendars are available for purchase at our online store along with other items unique to ABR. We’ sorry, but orders are restricted to the USA 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
40 CommentsComment on Facebook
I remember with the Beary Triplets, one was much smaller than the other 3 so for a little bit they were separated so he could eat. And Beignet and Bordeaux, he was much bigger and she was put with the smaller Beary Triplet. If I'm remembering correctly. It's been a bit but I think I'm right. Am I?
As Tom cleans, I'm wondering how the parasite situation is going.
Glad to see the cubs are active,do they realize it’s time to pack on the pounds without their mom to tell them.?
View more comments