Appalachian Bear Rescue (ABR), a Townsend-based one-of-a-kind rehabilitation center for orphaned and injured black bears, hosted its third annual Black Bear Expo on Saturday, May 5 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Shops at Trillium Cove.
The event was free to the public and featured live music by the Ross Brothers and clogging by J. Creek Cloggers, as well as campsite demonstrations, educational children’s games, and a fly fishing demonstration by Little River Outfitters. Numerous local vendors also participated. Representatives from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency were on hand to demonstrate bear trapping techniques and other bear-related things like skulls and scat, books, photos and more.
J Creek Cloggers from Maggie Valley, NC
Sue Moody is assistant manager of the Village Market IGA that sponsors ABR’s ‘Make our Cubbies Chubby‘ program
TWRA biologist David Whitehead showing a barrel trap in which he traps and transports bears
A family learning about TWRA and bears
ABR Board member Joey Holt (left) showing visitors how to camp safely in bear country
ABR Board member Heather Ripley and her husband, Bill
This little guy really likes his ABR stuffed bear!
Chief Wildlife Biologist for the GSMNP, Bill Stiver, discusses park policies and wildlife with Expo attendees
ABR volunteer, Julie Kennedy, shows scat samples to Expo visitors
Boy and his father learning why human food is bad for bears
A bear skull up close
ABR Board president, Dana Dodd, at the ABR info table at the Townsend Spring Festival
Chuck Cooper, the photographer who led the Expo photo field trip to Cades Cove and Jack Burgin, past president of ABR
Cleve Allen, owner of Allen’s Welding and Custom Fabrication, with his bearproof trash containers
Dana Dodd encouraging visitors to the Spring Festival to support ABR
Signing up new ABR volunteers
Expo attendees checking out upcoming programs at the Smoky Mountain Field School
Overall view of ABR’s Expo setup
J Creek Cloggers put on a spirited show!
One of the many “message bears” posted throughout the event grounds