Appalachian Bear Rescue

Appalachian Bear Rescue Please help with the care of our cubs. DONATE today! http://appalachianbearrescue.org/
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ABR Daily Update- January 19, 2025-Winter Cubs 🐻🐻🐻🌨️Weather: 37F (3C), Humidity 94%, Light snow ❄️It’s cold, it’s snowin...
01/19/2025

ABR Daily Update- January 19, 2025-Winter Cubs 🐻🐻🐻🌨️

Weather: 37F (3C), Humidity 94%, Light snow ❄️

It’s cold, it’s snowing, and Rags, Scruffy, and Phoenix are snoozing on the resting platform. It’s hard not to take their disregard for our culvert dens personally. What’s wrong with them? Are they not fancy enough? We’ve never claimed to be interior designers, but you’d think we could create something that would please bear cubs. Apparently, not these bear cubs.🤔

Our mission with Scruffy, Rags, and Phoenix is nearing its end. The cubs, soon to be yearlings, are healthy and ready for a second chance at life in the wild. Once they leave, we’ll begin major renovations to the Wild Enclosures. Please disregard any designs for future Wild Enclosure #5 you may have seen; we’ve had to rethink the entire project in terms of size and location. We’ll share the details as soon as we finalize them.

Our Cub Nursery, Hartley House, and The Cub House are ready to assist any cub who needs help. Thank you for supporting our efforts to care for them!

❤️Please consider donating to Appalachian Bear Rescue’s Bear Necessities Fund.
https://bit.ly/3Zhmi48

🎉Our Visitor & Education Center at Trillium Cove is open! Please click on the link for more information:
https://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.

ABR Daily Update - January 18, 2025-A Successful Species 🐻🐻🐻Weather: Temperature: 52°F (11°C),Humidity: 86%, Cloudy ☁️Ou...
01/18/2025

ABR Daily Update - January 18, 2025-A Successful Species 🐻🐻🐻

Weather: Temperature: 52°F (11°C),Humidity: 86%, Cloudy ☁️

Our soon-to-be yearlings, Rags, Scruffy, and Phoenix, still aren't taking advantage of the straw-lined culvert dens. They might change their minds when cold weather arrives this weekend.

Black bears are "all-weather" animals, built to withstand various temperatures. In spring, they'll shed their thick winter coat for a sleek summer fur, just another adaptation that makes black bears such a successful species. Hibernation is another remarkable strategy - a perfect way to survive periods of food scarcity by essentially sleeping through challenging times.

We're attaching a link to a short animated video, which remains the best visual depiction of bear hibernation we’ve seen.

https://www.facebook.com/atlasobscura/videos/10154293884517728/

It occurs to us that many new friends aren't familiar with the ABR facility. We’re posting two photos showing its current state.
Our curators are cleaning the facility, with activities currently limited to buildings and "quieter" work in unoccupied enclosures so they don’t disturb the cubs. Our mission with Rags, Scruffy, and Phoenix will end soon. Following their departure, we’ll be implementing a redesign of the wild enclosures - a plan we've been developing for weeks and will share once finalized. Significant behind-the-scenes work is ongoing to secure ABR's future and the future of orphaned or injured black bear cubs and yearlings.

We've received several inquiries about the necropsies of the thirteen cubs. These investigations take time, and we’ll share the results with you as soon as they become available.

❤️Please consider donating to Appalachian Bear Rescue’s Bear Necessities Fund.
https://bit.ly/3Zhmi48

🎉Our Visitor & Education Center at Trillium Cove is open! Please click on the link for more information:
https://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.

01/17/2025

Happy Friday!

ABR Daily Update - January 16, 2025 - How much wood would a bear cub cut if a bear cub could cut wood? 🐻🪵🦫Weather: 48°F(...
01/16/2025

ABR Daily Update - January 16, 2025 - How much wood would a bear cub cut if a bear cub could cut wood? 🐻🪵🦫

Weather: 48°F(9°C) Humidity 49%, Sunny☀️

The three bears in Wild Enclosure 1 have been very active today. From sunbathing on the platforms to foraging for peanuts, Phoenix, Scruffy and Rags have been out enjoying the sunshine and warmer weather. They are looking great and release day will come soon for them. Thank you for giving them a second chance. 🐻🐻🐻❤️

Curators Tom and Jamie, along with Executive Director Dana Dodd and ABR Board Member Mike Smith took a road trip today to Lawrence County, Tennessee. Here, an Amish sawmill is generously donating their wooden cypress slabs to our rescue facility. The cypress logs originally come from Arkansas and are cut for dimensioned lumber. Excess slabs from these lumber cuttings are then burned, or in this case, saved for bear cubs.

Curators plan to use the wood for facility upgrades such as platform replacements and artificial dens. Cypress wood is especially great for this because of its exceptional durability and natural resistance to rot and decay. Replacing the porous surfaces throughout our wild enclosures is just one of many things we are planning to do to ensure that our enclosures are as safe as possible for any future bear cubs in need. This alone makes the 4.5 hour commute (one-way) well worth it. Thank you for your support.

❤️Please consider donating to Appalachian Bear Rescue’s Bear Necessities Fund.
https://bit.ly/3Zhmi48

🎉Our Visitor & Education Center at Trillium Cove is open! Please click on the link for more information:
https://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.

01/15/2025

Thank you for everyone's flexibility today! Please join Tori and Greg for an update. 🐻

Phoenix and Scruffy Bear dropping in to say we are bear-y sorry, but we have to make one more change in today’s schedule...
01/15/2025

Phoenix and Scruffy Bear dropping in to say we are bear-y sorry, but we have to make one more change in today’s schedule. Please join Tori and Greg for Facebook Live at 3:30PM eastern. Thank you for your patience.

01/15/2025

Due to some scheduling shifts, Facebook Live will be held at 2:00PM eastern today. Join Tori and Greg for an update from the facility then! 🐻

ABR Daily Update-January 14, 2025-Dens and Bears 🐻🐻🐻Weather: 44F( 7C) Humidity 36%, Sunny 🌞Rags, Scruffy, and Phoenix sp...
01/14/2025

ABR Daily Update-January 14, 2025-Dens and Bears 🐻🐻🐻

Weather: 44F( 7C) Humidity 36%, Sunny 🌞

Rags, Scruffy, and Phoenix spend much of their time sleeping. Why, oh why, do they choose to do it on the ground, out in the open, when there are straw-lined culvert dens available?🤔

Black bears are adaptable, opportunistic animals: they will eat just about anything and take advantage of any situation that will provide them with a meal. They are just as opportunistic and adaptable when winter rolls around, and they prepare for hibernation. In Tennessee, especially in the Great Smoky Mountains, black bears use a variety of dens depending on what’s available in their environment. Black bears scout for possible den locations during the summer and fall, keeping several in mind for later use. A couple of years ago, we had a bear family exploring the grounds around ABR for a den site. Mom and cubs came back several times, but in the end, she chose to take her family elsewhere. Why bears choose one location over another is one of those things we’ll never understand. Here are some common den locations for Tennessee black bears:

Tree Cavities – Hollow trees high above the ground provide excellent shelter and protection from predators.

Ground Dens – Bears sometimes dig dens into the ground, often under tree roots or amidst thick brush to stay camouflaged and insulated.

Rock Crevices or Caves – Tennessee’s rocky terrain offers bears natural protection in small caves or crevices.

Fallen Logs or Stumps– Decomposed logs and hollow stumps serve as cozy dens, blending into the forest floor.

Man-Made Structures – Occasionally, black bears get creative, using abandoned buildings or culverts as makeshift dens. They like small enclosed spaces; if they fit and can sit, they stay.

In our area, male bears and single females might change dens several times during winter, abandoning one in favor of another they’d selected earlier in the year. Further south, male bears might den for a couple of weeks or not at all, and pregnant females just long enough to give birth to cubs and shelter them until they’re mobile.

❤️Please consider donating to Appalachian Bear Rescue’s Bear Necessities Fund.
https://bit.ly/3Zhmi48

🎉Our Visitor & Education Center at Trillium Cove is open! Please click on the link for more information:
https://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.

ABR Daily Update-January 13, 2025-Picture Day 🐻🐻🐻📸Weather: 46F (8C) Humidity 66%, Partly cloudy 🌤️The cubs are sleeping ...
01/13/2025

ABR Daily Update-January 13, 2025-Picture Day 🐻🐻🐻📸

Weather: 46F (8C) Humidity 66%, Partly cloudy 🌤️

The cubs are sleeping at Rag's pad. Their daybed, located at the base of a tree, is their favorite place, and they leave it only to get a snack or when it becomes very snowy or very wet.

The cubs like to sleep and are most active later in the afternoon and at night. Yesterday, while they were foraging, Curator Seth took several high-definition photos of the cubs to add to their files. Our mission with Rags, Scruffy, and Phoenix will end in a couple of weeks, and we need these pictures to document their progress while at ABR. The cubs couldn’t see Curator Seth, but they knew he was there; nothing can fool a sensitive cubby schnoz. Though they vary in size, the cubs are in very good condition and ready to return to the wild.🐻🐻🐻

Our hearts go out to the people and animals affected by the terrible wildfires in California. We are appalled by the extent of destruction and salute the firefighters and volunteers who are battling tremendous odds to bring the fires under control.❤️

❤️Please consider donating to Appalachian Bear Rescue’s Bear Necessities Fund.
https://bit.ly/3Zhmi48

🎉Our Visitor & Education Center at Trillium Cove is open! Please click on the link for more information:
https://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.

January 11, 2025: Snow DayCurator Katrina was up early this morning to enjoy our 4-5 inches of beautiful snow. Katrina g...
01/11/2025

January 11, 2025: Snow Day

Curator Katrina was up early this morning to enjoy our 4-5 inches of beautiful snow. Katrina grew up in Wisconsin and definitely knows the value of using a good snow shovel. She shoveled the stepping stones, the front porch, and then headed out to shovel around the gate area. Our curators are working long shifts during the snow event. It's better to stay longer and have fewer folks driving on our southern snowy (and often unplowed) roads.

Maybe it was the excitement of southern snow that kept Rags Bear up late last night. Scruffy and Phoenix went to bed at Rags' Place, but Rags didn't make it home until just before midnight. When he finally settled in, he plopped down on top of Phoenix Bear. We assume that Phoenix enjoyed the benefit of a nice, warm fluffy blanket. He certainly didn't seem to object.

After shoveling around the office, Curator Katrina took peanuts and acorns down to Enclosure 1. There was plenty of food in there, but Katrina made sure there was a breakfast buffet on top of the snow. Scruffy and Phoenix readily accepted the invitation to breakfast. For Rags, it was late to bed and late to rise. Not to worry, though! Rags made it in time for Brunch. All three bears had plenty to eat and we believe they all know not to eat yellow snow!

Thank you for all you do to give our bears a second chance at life in the wild. We couldn't do our work without YOU!

January 11, 2025: Trillium Cove Visitor Center Closed TodayWe have several inches of beautiful snow in our neck of the w...
01/11/2025

January 11, 2025: Trillium Cove Visitor Center Closed Today

We have several inches of beautiful snow in our neck of the woods today. Our Trillium Cove Visitor Center will be closed again today. Stay safe out there and enjoy the snow!

We will post a cub update later today.

01/10/2025

Have a great weekend 🐻

01/10/2025

As a precaution, the ABR Trillium Cove Visitor Center will be CLOSED today. Snow is expected in our area soon and driving conditions will likely deteriorate.

We will make a decision about opening tomorrow (Saturday) based on road conditions in our area. STAY SAFE AND WARM!

ABR Daily Update - January 9, 2025 - An ABR Field Trip Weather: 26°F(-3°C) Humidity 63%, Clear 🌔, Winter Storm Warning T...
01/09/2025

ABR Daily Update - January 9, 2025 - An ABR Field Trip

Weather: 26°F(-3°C) Humidity 63%, Clear 🌔, Winter Storm Warning

Today, ABR’s staff took a field trip! ABR Board Member, Phil Colclough, is the Director of Animal Care, Conservation and Education for Zoo Knoxville and was kind enough to invite our staff out to the zoo for a behind-the-scenes tour and tortoise therapy session. Greg, Katrina, Seth and Jamie joined Phil and other Zoo Knoxville staff to discuss all things animal husbandry, enrichment and facility upkeep. At the end of their tour, Curators visited Al the Aldabra Giant Tortoise. Al is a longtime resident of Zoo Knoxville and believed to be about 150 years old! We want to extend a huge thank you to Phil and Zoo Knoxville for having our staff out today (and to Curator Tom who sat this one out to keep an eye on things at ABR’s own facility).

Townsend, as well as most of Tennessee and the surrounding states, is under a Winter Storm Warning. Beginning tomorrow morning, snow accumulation of 3-6 inches is possible, along with slick and hazardous conditions. Last week on Facebook Live, Tori and Greg talked about a bear’s ability to withstand the winter elements. They do this largely through two different types of pelage or fur. Guard hairs make up the coarse outer layer of hair that protects bears from moisture, while their down underfur protects and insulates them from the bitter cold. From the ABR archives, a picture of Aralia Bear from the Cub Class of 2020 portrays a great example of what the wool-like down hair looks like in comparison to the guard hairs.

Scruffy, Rags and Phoenix Bear have plenty of fur (and fat) to sit this winter storm out comfortably. Join Curator Tori at 12:30PM eastern tomorrow to see what they think of the incoming snow. Thank you for your support. ❤️❄️

01/08/2025

We are so sorry but Facebook Live is canceled today. Everything at the facility and with Scruffy, Rags and Phoenix is OK. Please stay tuned for a video update that will be posted shortly. We appreciate your patience. 🐻

01/07/2025

ABR Daily Update-January 7, 2025-The Boys March🐻🐻🐻

Weather: 29F( -1.6C) Humidity 73%, Partly Cloudy🌥

Scruffy, Rags and Phoenix Bear are doing well. Though Phoenix is not biologically related to Scruffy or Rags, he has fit right in alongside the two. Late this afternoon, the three males marched together in line to forage for food. On today's menu was peanuts and apples - yum!

We hope you enjoy this short clip of the three bears in Wild Enclosure 1. Thank you for your support. ❤

Address

Townsend, TN
37882

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+18654480143

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Videos

Facebook Live Update January 17th 2025
Facebook Live Update January 17th 2025

Happy Friday!

Facebook Live Update January 15th 2025
Facebook Live Update January 15th 2025

Thank you for everyone's flexibility today! Please join Tori and Greg for an update. 🐻

Facebook Live Update January 10th 2025
Facebook Live Update January 10th 2025

Have a great weekend 🐻

ABR Daily Update-January 7, 2025-The Boys March🐻🐻🐻 Weather: 29F( -1.6C) Humidity 73%, Partly Cloudy🌥 Scruffy, Rags and Phoenix Bear are doing well. Though Phoenix is not biologically related to Scruffy or Rags, he has fit right in alongside the two. Late this afternoon, the three males marched together in line to forage for food. On today's menu was peanuts and apples - yum! We hope you enjoy this short clip of the three bears in Wild Enclosure 1. Thank you for your support. ❤

Facebook Live Update January 3rd 2025
Facebook Live Update January 3rd 2025

Join Greg and Tori for a Facebook Live Update!

ABR Daily Update-December 24th 2024-Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas Eve🎅 Weather: 40F (4C) Humidity 61%, Mostly Sunny 🌞 Thank you to all who participated in our Bearly 5K this fall. We've highlighted this event in the video below. From everyone at ABR, Happy Holidays!

Barkstall Elementary School for ABR.
Barkstall Elementary School for ABR.

ABR Update-December 23, 2024 Here’s a note from our dear friend, Valerie Prescott, and a wonderful video from her Grade 5 students at Barkstall Elementary School. ❤️🐻🐻🐻 Dear ABR Family, Happy Holidays from Ms. Prescott's class in Illinois! We hope you enjoy the holiday commercial we produced for ABR. We have collected 17 gallons of can tabs and $250.00 in cash donations, so far this school year! We would like to give a big shout out to all of our ABR and Barkstall Elementary School family and friends who have sent us can tabs and money! We are beyond grateful and hope to reach our goal of $800.00 this school year, for our classroom service project, Appalachian Bear Rescue! We are committed to saving black bear cubs! ❤️🐻 Have a BEARY Happy Holiday!🎄 In gratitude, Ms. Prescott's 5th Grade Class Barkstall Elementary School 2201 Hallbeck Dr. Champaign, IL 61822

Barkstall Elementary School for ABR

Students for ABR

Facebook Live Update December 6th 2024
Facebook Live Update December 6th 2024

Happy Friday! 🐻

Facebook Live Update December 4th 2024
Facebook Live Update December 4th 2024

Join Seth and Tori as we discuss Crockett Bear. 🐻

Facebook Live Update: December 2nd 2024
Facebook Live Update: December 2nd 2024

Please join ABR for a very important update. 🐻

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