Appalachian Bear Rescue

Frequently Asked Questions

These are some of the questions we are frequenly asked. If you have a question that is not answered here please e-mail us at email@

What is ABR's Mission?
Do you allow visitors to see the bears at ABR?
Why does it harm bears to be fed from humans?
Why don't ABR bears become habituated?
What do I do if a bear comes around my house?
Can I call ABR to come pickup or relocate a bear?
How can I help ABR?
Where do I sign up to be an ABR ambassador?
I saw a bear that needs help, what do I do?
Why do bears attack humans?
Where can I go to see (photograph) a black bear?
How can I best photograph a bear next to the road?
Where can I get a copy of the Bear Safe Brochure?

1. What is ABR's mission?

To rehabilitate orphaned and injured bears for release to the wild; to educate the public about black bears and the regional threats facing them; and to research bear attributes which may help solve other environmental or health related issues.

2. Do you allow visitors to see the bears at ABR?

No. Tennessee law states that bears housed in rehabilitation facilities shall not be exhibited nor come into public contact under any circumstances. Even though we can't "exhibit" our bears, we know our supporters enjoy hearing about them so we added a section to our ABR Bears page so you can keep track of our current family!

3. Why does it harm bears to be fed from humans?

The biggest problem wildlife officers face in dealing with black bears is that people feed bears. People have been told for decades that “Garbage Kills Bears” and a “Fed Bear is a Dead Bear” but somehow it doesn’t sink in. ABR knows of people who live near ABR who will not stop feeding bears. They just don’t or won’t understand that people who feed bears, kill bears. Here are the facts and they are not pretty.

Black bears are wild animals. When humans feed bears (or leave garbage where it can be taken by bears) bears look to humans for food. They stop acting as wild animals. Fed bears develop highly unsafe habits. They charge at people, they break into cars, buildings or tents looking for food and have injured or killed people. A fed bear typically passes on its bad habits to its offspring or other bears.

Some people (who feed bears) seem to believe it won’t hurt if I feed a bear “just this once.” What they do not realize is that any bear that is being feed by humans already associates food with humans. Bears naturally fear and avoid people. They typically feed during the evening and night. They rest during the day. Any bear that is in developed areas during the day or at night which shows no fear of humans has undoubtedly been feed many times before.

Bears who eat garbage don’t eat just the food in the garbage, they eat the trash as well. It is quite common that when a garbage bear, as it is called, is trapped, its fecal matter will include aluminum foil and plastic wrappers. One bear that regularly ate garbage from a dumpster near the National Park boundary was later found dead near the dumpster. The bear was otherwise healthy and no wounds were observed on the bear’s carcass. While the exact cause of death is unknown, it is believed the bear may have had digestive problems or compaction caused by the trash. People who feed bears, kill bears.

Because fed bears frequent developed areas, they are must more likely to be killed by cars than is a wild bear. For example, on June 23, 2007, at 1:30 a.m., a 350 pound black bear was killed when it was struck by a vehicle on the “spur” between Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. Officials in the Smokies concluded that the bear was a garbage bear because when it was killed, it was walking down the middle of the highway and was in excellent condition despite the fact that at present there is a shortage of natural food due to drought and a late spring freeze.

If these general statements are not proof that people who feed bears, kill bears, let us set out specific examples from reliable sources and other news articles. In every instance, the dead bear was either being fed by humans or showing no fear of humans.

July 2006, Wears Valley, Tennessee: Wears Valley man shoots bear that walked onto his deck. A resident shot and killed a 375 pound black bear when it came on to his deck. The bear showed no fear of being around humans and was habituated to eating garbage. Wild bears do not exhibit this behavior, a lack of the fear of humans in a developed area.
July 20, 2006, Grand Tetons National Park: Food-Conditioned Black Bear Euthanized.
July 20, 2006, Utah: Bear bites Boy Scout in Hobble Creek Canyon camp. According to the article, bear bit the boy because it was looking for food. Wildlife official said: “We had to put the bear down because it lost its fear of humans and has become habituated to eating human food.”
August 5, 2006, Adirondack Mountains, New York: DEC officers shoot, kill agressive black bear when it entered a camp site looking for food.
August 31, 2006, Sierra Vista, Arizona: “A female black bear and her cub were killed by an Arizona Department of Game and Fish officer after they refused to retreat from an area hotel.” The bears showed no fear of being around humans.
October 31, 2006, Gatlinburg, Tennessee: Rehabilitation was never an option for Cubs. “Once these bears get around those people and start getting these bad habits from their mother, you can't change that."
June 3, 2007, Tallahassee, Florida: Black bear captured on Thomasville Road; later euthanized. The bear “bear had a history of wandering too close to humans” and been relocated to another area only a month earlier.
June 5, 2007, Whistler, British Columbia: Poor garbage handling blamed in bear's death.
June 13, 2007, Conklin, New York: Black bear killed by homeowner after the bear wandered into the neighborhood.
June 15, 2007, Cleveland, Georgia: Dad kills bear at White Co. campground. The bear had taken a cooler and appeared to threaten the six year old boy who was trying to prevent the bear from taking the cooler.
June 22, 2007, Glenwood Springs, Colorado: DOW destroys bear that was fed, petted by people
June 25, 2007, Grand Tetons National Park: Food-Conditioned Black Bear Euthanized for Safety Concerns
June 28, 2007, Pinos Altos, New Mexico: Troublesome bear killed at Pinos Altos because “"The animal had lost its fear of humans . . . It was staring into windows of houses and hanging out on one person's back deck for the past week.”
June 28, 2007, Woodlands, New Jersey: Woodlands Wildlife Refuge Takes in [8] Orphaned Cubs when the three mothers of those eight cubs were all shot by officials after either breaking into or attempting to break into homes.
June 29, 2007, Pictou, Nova Scotia: Bear shot dead in downtown Pictou after it was “feasting on food left out on Pictou’s garbage day."
July 29, 2007, Ocean Falls, British Columbia: Cub's shooting forces remote town to change how it deals with bears
July 30, 2007, Mammoth Lakes, California: Bear euthanized after foraging in Mammoth Lakes cabins for foods.
August 8, 2007, Story, Wyoming: Black Bear Euthanized in Story
August 10, 2007, North Lake Tahoe, Nevada: Bear death highlights rift between wildlife, residents,
August 15, 2007, Orlando, Florida: Bear Dies After Being Tasered Twice by Police.
September 8, 2007, Grand Tetons National Park: Park kills black bear "Visitors continue to leave food within easy reach of bears in violation of park food storage rules."
October 17, 2007, Aspen, Colorado: Bear Attacks Woman in her Condo
October 27, 2007, Jackson Hole, Wyoming: Bear Conflicts Persist: The "bear was both human-habituated and food-conditioned."
October 30, 2007, Aspen, Colorado: DOW kills bear that Attacked Woman: “Black bear attacks are uncommon, but these powerful predators can become dangerous when lured to developed areas by human food sources.”
November 7, 2007, Incline Village, Nevada: Three Strikes and a Bear is Now Dead.

We want to be very clear. No one should ever blame any National Park personnel or a wildlife officer who is forced to euthanize a bear. None of them signed on to have to kill the animals they try to protect. Nor do we blame people who have killed bears in self-defense or the drivers of cars who have killed bears. The bears’ deaths is solely attributable to the people who fed them, whether they were fed intentionally or by people leaving garbage containers out where bears can get into them. People who feed bears, kill bears.

4. Why don't ABR bears become habituated?

Appalachian Bear Rescue has assisted 83 bears to date and not even one bear released from the facility has ever been reported as a “garbage” bear or a “nuisance” bear. ABR attributes this record to our procedures so we will describe them here:

When it has been determined by wildlife officials that a cub has been orphaned (after 48 hours of monitoring and giving every opportunity for the sow to return for her cub), the cub is captured and admitted to ABR.

If the cub is over 5 pounds in weight, it is immediately placed on a commercial formula, bottle-fed every 3-4 hours, and housed with other cubs for comfort and companionship (offering a minimum of human contact). If the cub weighs under 5 pounds, wildlife officials immediately begin the search to find a suitable surrogate mother in the wild while the cub receives care at ABR’s facility.

If a cub can be reintroduced to the wild immediately with a surrogate mother and siblings, the process moves quickly. If not, the cub is raised at ABR’s facility for later release to the wild. Cubs arriving at ABR’s facility in the spring are weaned by June and introduced to a 1-acre bear enclosure which offers numerous hardwood trees, natural dens, and man-made streams and water sources (pools).

Upon introduction to the bear enclosure, the cubs no longer see humans or receive any human contact (unless medical attention is required). The enclosure’s fence is covered with an 8’ black blind which blocks the cubs’ view of humans or unnatural sights. Food is tossed over the fence and scattered so the cubs must forage in a natural manner.

The cubs’ diet consists of fruits, berries, nuts and some vegetables that are similar to the natural diet they will find in their wild habitat. Guidelines from TWRA (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency), states that bear cubs must weigh at least 60 pounds before they can sustain themselves in the wild.

ABR’s procedure is to make sure the cubs have attained that weight and that they also exhibit normal foraging behavior, interacting/vocalizing with other cubs and climbing skills. The cubs should exhibit positive bear behavior by staying in the trees during the day and descending to eat at night. If the cubs are moving around for short periods of time during the day, they should immediately retreat to the trees when they hear unusual noises or smell unusual odors.

The goal at ABR is make sure bears don’t want to associate with people on any level. During their months in residence with no human contact, the cubs are naturally cautious and afraid of people and retreat to the trees for safety if they hear humans or strange sounds. This is the reason ABR does not have visitors. ABR would have no reason to exist if it were otherwise.

When all of the above-mentioned criteria are met, cubs are ear tagged and tattooed for release by determining where they will be released. Cubs admitted from the National Park area will be returned to the Park to a location as close as possible to their origination. Cubs admitted from Tennessee but outside the National Park, will also be released in one of the TWRA wildlife management areas which offer thousands of acres of plentiful food, water and safe habitat. Cubs admitted from out-of-state wildlife agencies will be returned to their home state .

The cubs are then trapped and put in small holding areas. When officers arrive at the ABR facility to prepare the cubs for transport, the cubs are darted with a mild sedative to allow approximately 30 minutes for a final health check and to measure/weigh them. During this final exam, the cubs are given numbered ear tags and lip tattoos for identification purposes. The cubs are not aware of any of these procedures while they are sedated. Then, the cubs are loaded in a bear box for transport.

We normally try to release the cubs in pairs, though there is no scientific data that supports the idea that the cubs stay together in the wild. Bears are ordinarily animals except during breeding seasons or where food sources are concentrated and abundant. Though they may have enjoyed the interactions of being with other cubs while at ABR, their natural instincts tell them to make their way in the wild alone.

One exception to our hands-off procedure: If an injured cub or yearling is admitted to ABR, the same procedures apply AFTER the injured bear has had a proper recuperation period. There is no set timeline from admittance to release of an injured bear. The injured bear is given all the time it needs in order to completely heal and rehabilitate from its injury. From time to time, that recuperation period requires that the injured bear must be “wintered.” When this situation occurs, the bear is released the following spring or summer after it has fully recovered.

ABR's procedures are constantly re-evaluated so we can maintain our perfect record.

5. What do I do if a bear comes around my house?

The best thing to do is to make sure you have no food of any kind where a bear can get to it. This includes pet food and bird food. A bear that can't get to food will likely move on to some other location.

Bears do not naturally seek food from humans. This bear has likely learned to identify certain houses with obtaining food. Bears are smart. They are also strong. A determined bear looking for food can get through a screen door or even a glass door in no time at all. For other residential safety tips, visit our bear safety page Be Bear Aware.

When a bear does comes around, make loud noises. If the bear is not habituated, that should make it leave. If it does not leave, it is too used to obtaining food from humans. You should then call the authorities (in Tennessee call the TWRA) to obtain further help. TWRA's general number is 1-800-332-0900.

6. Can I call ABR to come pickup or relocate a bear?

No. ABR's permit with the TWRA provides that we cannot transport bears. That means, of course, that every bear we help has to be brought to us by a TWRA officer or a National Park ranger (or an officer with another state or federal wildlife agency). We don't even have a vehicle or a cage that can transport a bear.

7. How can I help ABR?

As a not for profit corporation, any cash donation made to us is likely going to be tax deductable. To be sure, you would need to consult your tax advisor.

We also need donations of food for our bears. Our in the late summer of each year, we collect "Pears for Bears" at various locations. In the fall, we ask for acorns and hickory nuts to feed the bears.

We are always in need of volunteers for one project or another. Running an organization of this sort requires a lot of organization. We need volunteers to help at several events throughout the year. Please see our Volunteer section for more information.

One thing we don't need are people who offer to be volunteers because they think they will be invited to see our bears. It is understandable, to be sure, but this is one of our biggest problems! It is surprising how many people come by our site unannounced asking (or in some cases, demanding) to see our bears. Tennessee law does not permit us to exhibit bears for the reasons stated in this FAQ.

Please keep checking our site because we are not shy about saying how people can help Appalachian Bear Rescue.

8. Where do I sign up to be an ABR ambassador?

We hope to have more information for you soon, so please check back shortly.

9. I saw a bear that needs help, what do I do?

If the bear is a cub, leave it alone for a while. Often, a mother bear will return to an area to look for her cubs. Keeping your distance and waiting is the best thing you can do. If the mother has not appeared after several days to a week, then she is not likely to return. At that point, leave the cubs alone and contact the TWRA to report the abandoned cubs. If the bear appears injured, call us immediately. DO NOT APPROACH ANY BEAR, ESPECIALLY AN INJURED BEAR. ABR will contact the authorities to arrange for pickup and, if necessary, treatment.

10. Why do bears attack humans?

Attacks on humans are remarkably rare events but when they happen, they inevitably get the attention of the national news media. No one, however, can answer why bears “attack” any more than they can answer why humans attack other humans. Bears can attack for any number of reasons simply because they are wild and unpredictable creatures.
A bear's natural reaction is to avoid humans. Not every habituated bear attacks humans and there have been instances of attacks on humans by bears that were regarded as a habituated or “nuisance” bear. However, it is a fact that a feed bear quickly learns that humans are a food source. Anytime bears are around humans, it increases the chance that there will be conflict between the two. Aside from the harm it causes to the bear, only fools think feeding bears isn’t putting themselves at risk of serious harm.
A predatory bear may also attack smaller, slow moving animals, including small children believing them to be a source of food. For that reason, it is vital that parents who take young children into the forests stay close to them and watch them at all times.
In one incident a few years ago, a bear attacked an adult who was camping in a tent because the man had fried chicken over a campfire earlier that day and the bear could smell the food source on the man’s arm.
In another incident, from several years ago, a bear “attacked” a man after the man’s companions had robbed him and left him for dead. The bear apparently say the vulnerable human as a food source. (The companions were convicted of first degree murder, despite their argument that the bear was the actual killer.)
No one really knows exactly why bears attack humans. We cannot guarantee it won’t happen but if you enjoy being in the forest, you can take some common sense steps to minimize the risk:
Don’t travel alone.
Always store food properly, use bear proof containers if available.
If you cook in the forest, wash up afterwards with unscented soap or sanitizer.
When hiking, talk and make noise.
Keep children near by at all times.

11. Where can I go to see (photograph) a black bear?

In East Tennessee, the most reliable place to see a black bear is to visit the Knoxville Zoo. Their bear habitat, Black Bear Falls, is a first rate natural setting. If you are in North Carolina, you may also want to vist Mimi in her new home.

Most people are surprised at how difficult it is to get a good photograph of a bear or wild animal. Good wildlife photographers know the secret to a good photograph is to be quiet and patient and let the bear come within your photographic range. A long telephoto lens is a must. Never chase after any animal in the wild.

On the believe that, if you are reading this, you care enough about bears that you won’t chase them or create bear jams, we can pass on when and where you might be able to see and/or photograph wild black bears in the Smokies:

Bears are most easily seen when they are foraging for food. If you are in Cades Cove in August, expect to see bears hanging around thecherry trees. In July and August, look for bears hunting for black berries, espeically around Hyatt Lane.

Bears like "hard mast" (acorns) producing trees, especially white oak trees. Cades Cove is one of the better spots because of its open areas but any area in the Park that has a grove of white oak trees loaded with acorns is a possibility to see wild bears.

In the spring time, one of the primary foods available is squaw root. Bears will focus on the plant until berries start ripening in July at the low elevations.

Wherever you are, if you travel into a forest, it is vital, for your safety, your family's safety and for the bear's survival that you use good bear sense. Practice bear safety whenever you are in any forest. Remember, if you are in a national park you violate federal law by "feeding, touching, teasing, frightening, or intentional[ly] disturbing” any wildlife activity or habitat, including a bear." 36 C.F.R. § 2.2.

12. How can I best photograph a bear next to the road?

Most people only see bears in a zoo or from their car. If you see a bear from your car, there are several important things to remember.

First, keep your eyes on the road to make sure you don't have an accident with the either with the bear or with some other driver. Not surprising, when people see a bear they act and drive unpredicably. When a bear is sited some people drive as if they are in a movie chase scene. You also have to watch for other people who jump out of their car and run into traffic so they can get a "closeup" of the bear.

These "bear jams," not only increase the risk of a car accident they also cause needless risk of harm and stress to the very object of the enjoyment, the bear. If a bear is within sight of a road, odds are it is because the bear is feeding. The forest, after all, is the bears home.

ABOVE ALL, DO NOT GET OUT OF YOUR CAR. Imagine how you would feel if you were having dinner on your back porch when all of a sudden, a family drives into your yard, jumps out of their car, gets their cameras out of their trunk and starts taking pictures of you and your family. Even worse, imagine further that you, anoyed with the rude behavior, decide to take your dinner inside your house only to be followed by the "paparazzi" family wanting a "close-up."

Getting out of your car is not only stupid, it is risky, especially if cubs are present. While most of the time a bear will retreat, if threatened and cornered, a bear will defend itself. Although extremely rare, attacks on humans have occurred, inflicting serious injuries and death.

If you see a bear remain watchful. Do not approach it. If your presence causes the bear to change its behavior (stops feeding, changes its travel direction, watches you and so forth)—you’re too close.

People who chase bears through the woods simply to get a photograph not only violate state and federal law, they risk their own lives, the lives of everyone around them, the bear's life and if there are cubs around, they risk orphaning the cubs by running off (or worse) the mother. Even if that doesn't persuade you, the odds are remote that you'll get a decent picture of a bear. You'll be running through the forest, camera at your eye, while tripping over bushes or tree roots, chasing a bear who can run 5 times as fast as you. If you are "lucky", the best picture you'll get is of a black dot retreating off into the woods.

If you stop, pull off to the side of the road, stay in your car, turn off the engine and be as quiet as possible so you can enjoy the surroundings and avoid disturbing the bear. Use a long telephoto lens (braced against the window or door frame) and be patient.

13. Where can I get a copy of the Bear Safe Brochure?

Download your own copy of Bear Safe: Smoky Mountains

You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to open this file. You can download it for free here.