Appalachian Bear Rescue

11/09/2025

ABR Daily Update-November 9, 2025-ABR Trivia🤓🐻

Weather: 44F (6.7C) Humidity 75%, Cloudy☁️

While working on the 2026 Cub Calendars, Curators pulled a few ABR facts and trivia from our bear database. Here’s one that didn’t make the final print –- As of today, 24 of the 26 letters in the alphabet HAVE been used to begin at least one bear’s name at ABR. Which two letters haven’t been used?

Find more fun facts like this in your very own calendar copy:

They're here! They're here! Celebrate Appalachian Bear Rescue's 30th Anniversary with this 2026 Calendar. Each page was thoughtfully designed to honor our ABR history, including photos of important people and friends of ABR as well as, of course, many many photos of past ABR bears! This year's calen...

11/07/2025

ABR Daily Update-November 7, 2025-Cub Calendars Now Available! 🐻📆

Weather: 70°F (21°C) Humidity 52%, Partly Cloudy 🌤

THE WAIT IS OVER!!! Appalachian Bear Rescue’s 2026 Cub Calendars are now available for purchase at our Trillium Cove Visitor Center and in our online store. The annual ABR calendar is something that many of you look forward to, and you are in good company! Our entire staff also eagerly anticipates getting to hang a new calendar up in the office. This year, the calendar includes bonus pages that honor the bear rescue’s history, staff and friends. Help us celebrate our upcoming 30th Anniversary with this 2026 calendar. We know you’ll love it! https://appalachian-bear-rescue.myshopify.com/products/2026-abr-calendar-30th-anniversary-edition

* All proceeds from calendar sales count towards our Cubs Forever Campaign goal

** we’ve found one mislabeled bear photo in the calendar, we are sure some of you will find it! It’s hard to keep track of 400+ bears, even for us🐻🫢

11/06/2025

ABR Daily Update: November 6th, 2025
Weather: 69F, Bright and Sunny

"Breaking News: EcoWater Systems save the day at ABR, once again!🚰"

During a routine inspection and scheduled maintenance of the one of the new water filtration systems, generously donated by EcoWater Systems and Advanced Water Systems, we were shocked to find out the exact amount of water being passed through the system since its installation. What shocked us, was that the number was not 0 gallons. Instead, we learned that roughly 77,000 gallons had passed through the system in a month and half 😱(approximately leaking 1 gallon per hour nonstop)....while we had not used the water spigot a single time. In other words, we have leaked 77,000 gallons of well water (that we know of). This leak could have been going on for a very long time with us being none the wiser.

The new system can tell us exactly how much water is being used and exactly the rate of use (gallon per minute or hour) in real time and over a selected time period. This allowed Curator Seth and Board President Mike to determine that the leak was coming from the water spigot, after digging up where the buried water line connected to the spigot, removing the spigot, and capping the water line. They saw that the flow on the filtration system completely stopped after capping the water line. This was the best outcome, as it meant there wasn't a leak in the buried water line somewhere. After Mike dismantled the spigot, he found a small crack where the leak was originating from.

Today, Mike and Seth were able to install the new spigot and then test to make the water flowed correctly without any further leakage, as confirmed by the new water filtration system monitoring application.

11/05/2025

ABR Daily Update - November 5, 2025 – Bearly 5K Run/Walk Slideshow 🐻🥇📸

Weather: 72°F (22.2°C) Humidity 37%, Sunny ☀️

Thank you to everyone who participated in our Bearly 5K Run/Walk on October 25th! This was ABR’s 10th time hosting this event and you all made it one to remember. We had over 180 race participants attend in-person with our staff in Townsend, and approximately 200 more that registered to join from afar. Thank you to those who sent in pictures to be included in this year’s slideshow. We hope you enjoy. 😊Thank you so much for your support.

** NOTE: If there is a picture you want a copy of, please feel free to reach out to Tori at [email protected] for a high resolution copy!

Thank you to everyone who participated in our 2025 Bearly 5K Run/Walk! This was our 10th time hosting and you made it one to remember with 180 race attendees...

11/04/2025

November 4, 2025 - Hot Off the Press🚜🐻

Weather: 62F (17C), Sunny☀️

It is another perfect fall day here in Townsend, and curators are busy putting their brains together as they plan the important details of the new enclosure such as electric fencing, platforms and acclimation pens to name a few. One of the great minds present during this meeting of the minds today was Tom Faulkner. Tom has been around since the beginning of ABR and so his historical knowledge is invaluable when it comes to planning out the details of these new enclosures. He knows what has worked well as well as, perhaps more importantly, what has not worked so well. This is especially critical when cub antics are part of the equation!

Many of you have been waiting so patiently for this year's sweatshirts and we are excited to announce that they are officially here- hot off the press! We wanted to continue to capture the theme of these past few months with our Cubs Forever campaign. We call these the "Building New Tomorrows" sweatshirts. They feature an image of 3 black bear cubs and a mother bear hanging out around some heavy construction equipment**. It reminds us of all the hard work put in by our partners and supporters to take on this huge renovation and expansion project as we build new tomorrows for future cubs in need of ABR's help. To make it even more fun, the image was drawn by ABR's very own Curator Seth!

We are trying something different this year, with a crewneck sweatshirt- so they have no hoods. They are heavyweight sweatshirts made by Gildan and they run on the larger side compared to the Next Level brand hoodie sweatshirts we've gotten the last few years. Grab your crewneck today, all proceeds go towards our Cubs Forever campaign!

Grab your sweatshirt in store or online at this link: https://appalachian-bear-rescue.myshopify.com/products/building-new-tomorrows-crewneck-sweatshirt

**cubs are strictly prohibited from climbing on or operating heavy equipment while in our care

11/03/2025

ABR Daily Update - November 3, 2025 - 30th Anniversary Logo Incoming...

Weather: 54F (12C) Humidity 73%, Mostly Cloudy ☁️

We are excited to officially debut the 30th Anniversary Logo for Appalachian Bear Rescue!!

2026 will mark 30 years of unwavering dedication, support and vision from our board, staff, volunteers, interns, partners, supporters, followers and friends to giving bear cubs a second chance. To celebrate in the new year, we will begin using a “new” logo that was carefully designed with the past 30 years in mind.

Thirtieth anniversaries are also commonly coined the “Pearl Anniversary”, as pearls symbolize love, unity and growth. With you by our side, we have accumulated three decades of memories and shared experiences that continuously emphasize a love for conservation and Smoky Mountain black bears, unity in a common end goal, and growth when it was needed the most.

The cub from the Appalachian Bear Center’s 1999 logo makes a comeback for our 30th, though instead of a tree, this cub is propped against the larger bear from our regular ABR logo. This signifies what we hope for every little bear cub; a chance to remain alongside their mother in the wild. Perhaps this also serves as a mirror to what our mission truly is at Appalachian Bear Rescue – taking in a small, helpless bear cub in need and giving them a chance to grow into the big, healthy bear that they were always meant to become on the other side of their short stay with us.

We hope the new logo speaks to you as much as it does our team. You will be seeing a lot more of it with the new year. ☺️ A big thank you to our wonderful friends at Hart Graphics - Knoxville, TN who made this vision come to life, and of course to all of YOU for being here. Thank you. ❤

11/02/2025

ABR Daily Update-November 2, 2025-Photo Chronicles of Summitt’s Branch 🐻🪵

Weather: 37F (3C) Humidity 89%, Light Rain☂️

A long-time follower and friend of Appalachian Bear Rescue made an excellent comment on yesterday’s video introducing Summitt Bear’s rescue story from 2017.

For those who were not following us back then, it should be noted that while the inspiration for Monica Wells current painting is indeed from one of Summitt’s most infamous “branch positions”, it was definitely not the only, nor the oddest one that Summitt was ever found in while in our care.

We went digging and came up with at least ten other unique positions that curators found Summitt lounging in while on his branch. We hope you enjoy. 😂 One last reminder that bidding for the painting of Summitt Bear will end at 8PM eastern TONIGHT! https://ebay.us/m/pCUIE2

11/01/2025

ABR Daily Update-November 1, 2025-Summitt’s Story 🐻

Weather: 56°F (13.3°C) Humidity 58%, Cloudy ⛅️

Learn more about the bear featured in this weekend’s artwork auction! Don’t forget to place your bids before tomorrow night at 8PM. https://www.ebay.com/itm/286907667169

10/31/2025

ABR Daily Update-October 31, 2025-Happy Halloween! 🎃

Weather: 52F (11C) Humidity 66%, Partly Cloudy 🌥

Happy Halloween!! We have yet another treat to share with you all today . . . we have officially reached 80.4% of our total Cubs Forever Campaign goal! The total that you've helped us raise so far is $550,800.00. Launching this capital campaign back in July might have seemed a bit "spooky", but time and time again our wonderful friends and supporters come through for us and for bear cubs in need. We are so, so grateful. ❤

Don’t forget that bidding in the current artwork auction helps to raise funds for the Cubs Forever Campaign! The auction for Summitt Bear’s painting will end this Sunday, November 2nd at 8PM eastern. You can place your bids here: https://ebay.us/m/pCUIE2

10/30/2025

ABR Daily Update #2-October 30, 2025-Cubs Forever Campaign Artwork Auction Pt. 5-Summitt Bear🐻🌲

Weather: 48F (8.8C) Humidity 85%, Cloudy🌥

This Halloween weekend we are offering you all a big TREAT (no tricks involved)! The next ABR alum to be painted and auctioned off is Summitt Bear from 2017! Summitt is an infamous past resident who’s named after legendary University of Tennessee Lady Vols basketball coach, Pat Summitt. While in our care, Summitt Bear was most often found draped across one particular tree branch in Wild Enclosure 4. This branch, since deemed "Summitt's Branch", has remained a notable landmark of sorts among the ABR staff, our friends and followers.

Summitt was returned to the wild on August 6, 2017, where we hope he has found another favorite branch to occupy.☺️ Bids for Monica Wells beautiful rendition of Summitt in his branch will open tonight at 8PM eastern. Bids start at $100 and will close on Sunday, November 2nd at 8PM eastern. Proceeds from this auction will count towards the Cubs Forever Campaign, ensuring that future bears will have a chance to try out Summitt's favorite spot.

BID HERE ON SUMMITT BEAR (link will not go live until 8PM eastern): https://www.ebay.com/itm/286907667169

10/30/2025

October 30, 2025 - It takes a Village!🐻🔨🤝

Weather: 50F (10C), Drizzle 🌧

It has been a drizzly week here in Townsend. While Hurricane Melissa was no where near Tennessee, the low pressure system it has created has made it a damp week in many parts of the Eastern US. We send our thoughts out to those affected by this very strong storm in Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti and other Caribbean islands.

We've been sharing bits and pieces of our Bearly 5K event that occurred this past weekend at our Trillium Cove Visitor Center in Townsend. Over 180 people attended the event in person and around 200 people participated virtually around the country and world (Sweden!). It was a perfect fall day and we are grateful to each and every one of you who participated. We are still gathering photos from the event, and we will be sharing those with you all in the next few weeks! f you haven’t yet, please send any event photos that you don’t mind sharing to [email protected].

Specifically, we would like to take the time to thank all of the sponsors that made this event possible this year! We have the best community surrounding us here in Townsend. Since the beginning of ABR, local businesses from the surrounding cities/counties have been supporting us financially and providing us with the best services around. As we Build New Tomorrows for our future cubs, we have continued to be supported by many amazing local businesses. Here are the sponsors of the 2025 Bearly 5K!

Presenting Sponsors:
- Trushel Living Trust
- Anakeesta

Other Business Sponsors:
- Little River Pub and Deli
- DENSO North America
- Kenjo Markets
- Appy Lodge, Old Creek Lodge, Bearskin Lodge
- Core Investments and Benefits
- Advanced Water Systems
- Appalachia Georgia Friends of the Bears
- Roger L. Newman Co.
- Rimel's Property Services
- Stanley Fencing

We also had a handful of generous individual sponsors as well as some anonymous sponsors. A HUGE thank you to everyone for making this event wonderful. We greatly enjoyed seeing everyone on Saturday, and we could feel the support from all of our virtual participants! It truly takes a village, and ours is pretty awesome😊