Preparations - Appalachian Bear Rescue

Preparations for what? For the release of our cubs – at least for ten of them. The curators have met with the wildlife officers from Kentucky and Tennessee about potential release dates, and as a result they have begun the pre-release protocols to make the process as safe and as stress-free as possible.

To get ready, they have opened the gates into the Acclimation Pens in Enclosure #1, #3, and #4. They have also stopped throwing food over the fences into the enclosures, instead loading up the food wheel and putting plenty of food inside the Acclimation Pen. With the gate open, the cubs can go in and out at will, and they get used to going inside to eat.

When the release day comes, the gate will be lowered, trapping the cubs inside so that the wildlife officers can dart them easily in a small space to immobilize them

Exhibit 1 – Acclimation Pen for Wild Enclosure #4. Cubs are entering the open gate.

Barley Bear, in Acclimation Pen #4. Note the food in the food wheel.

The cubs go in and out as they choose, becoming accustomed to the pen.

Here is Wild Enclosure #1, where Stout and Porter go in to obtain food.

A “bird’s eye view” inside Acclimation Pen #1, which has plenty of peanuts scattered on the floor.

Our yearling, Bud, must remain for a while longer in the Hartley House, after his tooth extractions. Bud really enjoys the challenge of tipping over his water dish!

An extra-heavy rock is still no match for the strong yearling bear!

What’s this! Bud can tip over his water with two large rocks inside!

Bud looks toward the door, as if calling for someone to mop the floor.

Thanks, Bud Bear, for the comedy relief! He shows the strength of a yearling bear (even an injured one) and it seems that he is relishing the challenge of defeating the curators’ attempts to secure the water dish. Watch this space for more news about the cubs and yearling.