Goodbye to Bud Bear! - Appalachian Bear Rescue

Today’s post is all about the workup and release of our yearling, Bud Bear.

The workup crew – curators, wildlife officers, and UT vets – entered the Acclimation Pen to transport Bud to the release staging area.

Bud is a Big Bear – he weighs 133 pounds! This means he actually doubled his weight during his time at ABR.

His teeth look much better since his dental surgery.

Bud gets his teeth cleaned. Not every bear experiences that!

Look at the size of his big paw! It will take him wherever he needs to go.

Bud’s exam is over. He’ll be on his way soon.

Bud is in the transport carrier and the crew waits for him to wake up.

At the release site – Bud jumps down to run back home!

And so ends the three months at ABR for our yearling, Bud Bear. He was a model patient, and with the help of the UT veterinarians he is ready to resume his life in the wild as a two-year-old bear. We wish him a long and happy life in the wild. Good luck, Bud, and stay away from humans and their food!