Displaying items by tag: jason maxedon

Canoeists enjoy a paddle along the Hatchie River in West Tennessee. A recent land acquisition brings the total of bottomland protected in the river corridor to 37,000 acres. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Hatchie Bottom property will join more than 30,000 acres of protected lands along river corridor

Lee Wilmot is a public information officer for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission.

NASHVILLE  — The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency in partnership with The Nature Conservancy of Tennessee (TNC) and The Conservation Fund (TCF), announced the acquisition of the Hatchie Bottom property, a 7,457-acre expanse of ecologically rich bottomland hardwood forest along the Hatchie River.

The acquisition represents a major milestone in Tennessee’s Conservation Legacy initiative and fulfills a longstanding priority in the Tennessee State Wildlife Action Plan to protect and preserve critical wildlife habitat. The property will be managed as a new wildlife management area (WMA), and will also provide new opportunities for hunting, fishing, wildlife watching, and outdoor recreation.

“The Hatchie Bottom acquisition is a powerful example of what we can achieve when conservation partners come together with a shared vision for Tennessee’s natural heritage,” said Gov. Bill Lee. “This acquisition reflects our commitment to safeguarding the state’s most treasured landscapes while expanding opportunities for Tennesseans to connect with the outdoors. It’s an investment in our environment, our communities, and the generations to come in the Volunteer State.”

Rosemary Bear (class of 2022) cools off in a cub tub (all to herself this time, thank you) on a hot July day at Appalachian Bear Rescue in Townsend. The center entered a new agreement with licensing authority Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency that calls for improved sanitation, regular pen rotation and burnovers and other management techniques. TWRA euthanized 13 bears in December 2024 following fatal and persistent strains of pneumonia. The center has been closed since; ABR director Greg Grieco said on July 22 the facility expects to complete renovations and be ready for the next crop of orphaned and injured bears by spring 2026.  Appalachian Bear Rescue

TWRA and bear rescue center reach agreement to resume rehab services at Townsend facility next year

This is a joint release from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and Appalachian Bear Rescue.

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) and Appalachian Bear Rescue (ABR) have reached a new partnership agreement for black bear rehabilitation in Tennessee.

During the course of 2023 and 2024, the presence of pneumonia raised initial concerns about the health of bears being housed at ABR. After a difficult decision in December 2024 to euthanize 13 bears, the agency temporarily paused the placement of bears at the facility.

In the months that followed, TWRA staff sought input from bear managers, wildlife veterinarians and disease pathologists in other states on best management practices and pen sanitation measures such as discing, burns and leaving pens empty on an annual rotational schedule. ABR staff immediately started working to implement extensive modifications and upgrades to the facility to align with the recommendations of these professionals. 

TWRA leadership also began working with ABR to draft an official operating agreement to strengthen the relationship between the two entities, set clear expectations for best management practices for bear rehabilitation and provide transparency to members of the public invested in wildlife conservation.