Great Smoky Mountains Natl. Park — Appalachian Bear Rescue took in another bear on Wednesday after calls of a small, sad bear sitting on a rock in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The new bear, named Spruce Bear, was named for the area in which it was found.
Ryan Williamson, a wildlife biologist, found the bear lying on the side of the road in an unresponsive state in the Tremont area. It gave little resistance when he used a catch pole to capture the bear.
"They took the bear to UTCVM-University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, where Dr. Sheldon and her team examined him," ABR said.
According to ABR, the bear is a yearling and the first one that's been rescued this season.
"He is a male, about nineteen months old, and malnourished, weighing only 26 pounds (11.79 kg)," ABR said. "To put that into perspective, our last arrival, Meadow Bear, is a seven-month-old cub and weighs 25 pounds (11.34 kg)."
The doctors found that the bear was suffering from severe cuts on his upper gums and significant damage to his upper lip and snout, ABR said. Doctors then consulted with dental specialists who said despite the damage, the bear's teeth were fine.
"Dr. Sheldon stitched up the cuts, administered a shot of long-lasting antibiotics, and released him into ABR’s care," the group said. "He will be on the usual deworming medications and will convalesce in Hartley House, restricted to a soft food diet."
According to ABR, doctors believed the wounds to be recent. They said the wounds could be around three days old at most and were likely caused by another animal. ABR said it could not account for the little bear's low weight, saying that there seems to be plenty of food available for bears this summer.
"His mother would have separated from him approximately a month ago, and some yearlings have a very hard time learning to live on their own," ABR said.
The group is asking for donations for Spruce Bear. A fundraiser to support him was at $1,351 with 29 donations Wednesday evening.
