When did Appalachian Bear Rescue (ABR) start and could you tell us a little about what it does?
ABR is a black bear rescue just outside the Great Smokey Mountains National Park (GSMNP) that helps injured and orphaned black bears and gives them a second chance back in the wild. It started in 1996 after a hard mast failure in which there were no acorns and bears were starving. The National Park Services, Wildlife Services and volunteers came together and ABR grew from that. We have helped over 360 bears to date – cubs and bears under 2 years old per our permit. Currently we have 13 at the rescue.
What was the first bear you rescued and how many have you helped?
Zero Bear in 1996. He was a yearling that was starving and injured. He was successfully released back into the GSMNP.
How do you tell the difference between a black bear and a Grizzly bear?
In our part of the world (TN) we only have black bears. They are a separate species and physically black bears can also be brown. The best way to differentiate is Grizzly claws are longer and straight (to shovel and dig). Black bears claws are 1 to 2 inches and curved for climbing. Grizzly bears also have a very muscular hump on their shoulders.
How do you find the bears or how do they get to you?
Mostly from calls from the public – people out hiking sometimes report cubs by themselves. Mom might well be close by so we monitor the situation for 24 to 48 hours before we deem help necessary. Mother bears are sometimes hit by cars and the police will call us in to help cubs on the roadway. We also take bears in from surrounding states that need help.
What is the usual age range of bears at ABR?
Under 2 years. In hard mast failure years a lot will be yearlings fending for themselves for the first time. If food mast is good we get more cubs. The typical age range is 3 weeks to 2 years.
What types of problems are bears facing when they come to you?
In some cases mother bears are poached and we get lots of orphaned or abandoned bears. Most commonly we deal with malnutrition and parasites, as well as injuries as a result of being hit by a car. One bear recently needed a blood transfusion. We worked with the University of TN Vet College and a bear from the Knoxville Zoo gave blood needed for the injured bear’s transfusion. We named him Summit.
Humans and trash create a huge problem for bears. Mother bears will often have to be euthanized because they get into trash and get aggressive. Her cubs then come to ABR.
Have you always wanted to help wildlife and bears?
My dad works for the MI Department of Natural Resources and I grew up loving wildlife. I enjoy outreach and educating people about wildlife and I do a lot of ABR interviews. I also host educational programs about bears and co-existence.
What is an interesting thing about bears that people usually don’t know?
Bears have a really good sense of smell. Bears are often portrayed as slow moving foragers, but they are very quick and can run about 35 mph. They are fast climbers too.
If someone wanted to work in a place like Appalachian Bear Rescue (ABR), what would they study?
You could study various things like Ecology, Biology, Environmental Studies, Wildlife and related fields. I studied Natural Resource Management.
How long do bears usually stay at ABR before they are released back into the wild?
It depends on their condition. For a bear that has to overwinter with us, 5 to 8 months is average. Cubs that arrive very early in the year, when healthy are usually released in November or early December. The question is often asked - how do they know when to ’den-up’? This is instinctual for them. When they leave ABR they are fat and healthy and on release go and find a den.
What is your busiest time?
We are busy all year after the 2 month “off-season” from December to February when bears “den-up”. Our busiest time is early Spring (March/April) when bears are coming out of their dens, but we get calls all the time.
How do you release the bears back into the wild?
We are all hands-off at our facility and our enclosures are all outdoors. All fencing is black visual so they don’t see us and we don’t see them. We throw food over the fencing so they have to forage for it. When it’s time for release we do a passive release into a smaller enclosure which we ‘bait’ with food they love so they will go into the enclosure. A Wildlife agency comes on release dat and sedates the bear. We give them a good ‘work up’, put a collar and ear tag on them. They are released back into the area where they came from and they run straight out.
What is a story you love to tell?
Last year we got cubs on Valentines Day, so they were about 3 weeks old. There had been a gas leak at a cabin in the woods. The technician who had gone out there had disturbed a mother bear in the crawl space. She had run out and left 3 tiny cubs. We took the cubs as we were not sure if the mother would come back. One day later the mother bear did come back and we were able to get the cubs back to the mom. The homeowner let the bears stay in the crawl under the house and put up cameras so we could watch them.
What should someone do if they see a bear in the wild?
Initially talk to it. Let the bear know you are there. Then slowly back away. Never ever run. Clap and wave your arms. Remain calm. If it is a Brown Bear almost all the time it will get out of there. They are shy. Grizzlies can e a bit more defensive.
What should someone do if they are attacked by a bear?
If it is a Brown Bear fight back because they will 99.9% of the time run away. If a Brown Bear attacks it is likely that something has happened to make it a predatory bear which is against its nature. If a Grizzly Bear attacks play dead and lie on your stomach.
What can people do to help bears and ABR?
You can help bears by stowing trash so they cannot get into it. It is the number one thing that helps bears. Clean grills and put bird feeders away when bears are active and in the area. Follow Bear Wise - they have a number of initiatives that help bears. ABR is a non-profit. Follow ABR on social media - we have a very active social media and share a lot of updates and content.
How can people get in touch with ABR?
You can call or email us or get in touch through Facebook. Our website is: appalachianbearrescue.org