Our Bears - Cades Cove Bear

In late June of 1997, ABC received a call from Kim Delozier, a biologist with the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, regarding a bear that was trapped near the Cades Cove campground. Although nearly 2 1/2 years old this bear weighed only 49lbs. Just by looking at her they could tell something was wrong; she was merely skin and bones.

During a routine check-up, veterinarians made an astonishing discovery. The bear apparently had a 4 1/2 inch long stick embedded on the inside of her left leg. No wonder she was emaciated . . . she could barely get around to forage for food!

A small surgical procedure removed the stick and she soon made her way to the Appalachian Bear Center.

After six-weeks of rest and relaxation, the bear fully recovered. The only telling point in her story was the shaved left hind leg from her surgery. After organizing a release date to coincide with the peak of the berry season, it was time to release the bear.

A beautiful afternoon was chosen at the beginning of August and the bear was transported down a dirt road off the Cades Cove Loop in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

Upon her release she ran across the field nearly thirty yards, did a pirouette for all the cameras to take pictures, then ambled off into the nearby woods happy to be back home. Once again ABC proved its worth and returned a bear into the wild.