I am here to tell you exactly what happened at our release…

The day started normally…you know…we ate, we bluff charged each other, Rose did her usual pacing as I sat on my perch watching the world go by. All was well. Then SUDDENLY things changed!  A man with a gun took aim and everything started fading away…

Great Smoky Mountains National Park biologist taking aim with a dart gun

I quickly slipped down from my perch and climbed on top of the den for safety but it was too late…what’s going on here!?…KLUNK…

The officers checked me quickly to see that I was OK (which I was) —  then they moved big, heavy me from the ABR crib into a stretcher for the first leg of my long journey home. They were very gentle with me, not to worry.

By now I was in a deep but temporary sleep, otherwise none of this could have been done to me. I would have wildly resisted them! See the towel on my face? They covered my eyes with it to prevent them from drying out. When sedated my eyelids stay open!

I am now on my way to the next part of the release process…just wait until you see what happens next!

TO BE CONTINUED…