Displaying items by tag: townsend bears

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.