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 49 pounds. 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 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 evidence of her surgery was the shaved left hind leg. 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, and then ambled off into the nearby woods, happy to be back home. Once again ABC proved its worth by returning a bear into the wild.