Sick black bear cubs in Townsend need help with healing

Sick black bear cubs in Townsend need help with healing

By JOSH AULT
6 News Reporter

TOWNSEND (WATE) - For more than 15 years, Appalachian Bear Rescue in Townsend has been helping abandoned Black Bear cubs.

On Friday, the group received their fourth cub this year. This new baby bear was found by park rangers and is currently in critical condition.

Spring is usually when things get really busy at the ABR.

"We started on the first day of spring taking in our first bear cub weighing three-and-a-half pounds, and he came to us from Gatlinburg," said Lisa Steward, curator for ABR.

"A week later he was followed by two more that were orphaned when their mother was shot in Polk County, and yesterday park rangers found another, very young, very small needy cub at three-and-a-half pounds. She is getting specialized care now. She's had medical attention and she is being fed around the clock and is being offered antibiotics and other medical treatments to pull her through."

Stewart says in 2009 they had a record year with 23 cubs taken in. She says they are on the same track this year for another large number.

It is not cheap taking care of these bears.  

"We can expect about $3,000 per cub in order to give it everything it needs to put it back out by the end of the year or the following spring," said Stewart.

To help ease costs, a food donation barrel has been set up at the Village Market IGA in Townsend.

Donations of dog food, fruits, vegetables, and Gerber rice cereal are taken there to help feed the cubs.

Stewart said the food donated here makes up 50% of what the bears eat.

"Without the bears you really don't have the Smokies," said Susan Moody, Village Market IGA assistant manager. "People don't understand how much Lisa does to make sure the bears survive and that they are healthy."

A majority of the money used to help these bears comes from public donations. Stewart says they are always in need of more.
    
"We are just hoping most of the cases are cubs can stay with their mothers in the wild and learn the lessons they need in order to survive, but as we have already been faced with the four residents we have now, we know that can't be perfect, and that is why we do our job and jump in," she said.

They hope to release the four cubs they have now by their first birthdays.

ABR is one of only three black bear rescue groups in the county. They have helped cubs in states all over the southeast.

ABR is not open to the public. They have to limit the cubs contact with human, so they can eventually return to the wild.

To find out how you can help these cubs heal, visit the group's website.