TOWNSEND, Tenn. — Appalachian Bear Rescue is taking care of a new cub after his mother was killed in a crash on a curvy section of Highway 321 at the entrance of Townsend on Wednesday.
ABR said the cub, ABR 423 or "Scruffy Bear," was found in a trap around 2:30 a.m. Thursday that the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency set after determining the mother bear had two cubs.
Scruffy Bear was taken in for a checkup at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. ABR said he's tiny compared to their "chonky cubs," but said he is healthy and is in good condition.
"Please welcome ABR 423 Scruffy Bear to the ABR Class of 2024. Please keep the little bear and all our cubs in your heart. You give them a second chance at life back in the wild where they belong. All the other ABR cubs are doing well," ABR said.
ABR said the cub's sibling is still out there somewhere as of Friday. The TWRA set other baited traps in the area in hopes of capturing it so ABR can provide it appropriate care.
"As we all know from chasing Special Sauce Bear around for a month, it is difficult to trap an orphaned cub and it can take a long time. We are patient and we and our partners will do all we can," ABR said.
