KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Appalachian Bear Rescue posted an update on Puff Bear on social media on Sunday, sharing an image of the injured bear cuddled up with another furry resident.
"For now, we thought you might enjoy seeing Puff and SuBearu sleeping together," ABR said.
ABR said this sleeping arrangement might not seem like much of an accomplishment, but since the bears have been alone for so long, it's "wonderful."
"Though they have a long road ahead in their recovery, we thank you for helping them get this far," ABR said.
Puff Bear's Journey began in late May after the organization discovered the injured bear cub completely alone. ABR said it had received a call from Ryan Williamson, a Great Smoky Mountains National Park wildlife biologist, as he was on his way to investigate a report of a cub that had been seen around a ranger station for multiple days.
ABR said the cub was alone and walking in circles, noting the behavior was usually not a good sign. The ranger then gave the bear some water and transported it to the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine.
According to Appalachian Bear Rescue, after they arrived at UTCVM, they learned the bear cub was a 4-month-old female that weighed around 6 pounds. Dr. Sheldon and her team then examined the cub and noticed that her skull was not symmetrical.
ABR posted an update the day after the outpouring of support for Puff Bear, highlighting the treatment the cub was going through.
"Thank you for all your kindness for our newest cub, Puff Bear. We sincerely appreciate every 'like,' share, comment and donation," the group said. "We know you keep all of our cubs in your heart and we and our cubs feel your support and love. You give our cubs a second chance at life in the world."
According to the organization, doctors at UTCVM told the nonprofit on May 30 that Puff was in stable condition in the ICU, but was still not normal "neurologically."
"We are trying out a medication to decrease pressure in the brain but it is also likely her signs could be related to infection so more time on antibiotics will hopefully help," the doctors said. "She is still not eating on her own so we are tube feeding her. We'd like to keep her in (ICU) another day at least for now to give her more time to show neuro improvements on the meds."
SuBearu Bear, the one snuggling up to Puff in the most recent update, was also taken in around the same time with a broken femur.
"The break was repaired by the veterinarians at UTCVM, but keeping a little bear calm and quiet even for a few days is often very difficult.," ABR said.
In the same update post for Puff Bear, ABR wrote that SuBearu was improving and was even interested in bigger food portions.
"SuBearu likes her Puppy Chow and we like that she's getting the calcium and other nutrition that she needs to mend," ABR said.
A couple of weeks later, the two bears who started their healing journey around the same time are finding comfort in one another.
"We think the current living arrangements are working, and the cubs seem calmer. Their mental health is as important as their physical health and often more difficult to maintain," the group said. "The very fact they’re held captive is stress-inducing, and the curators try to minimize that by introducing various enrichment devices, like Kong toys, to distract them."
The group said putting SuBearu with another cub was a risk they had to take, and that keeping her alone any longer just wasn't possible. Puff Bear and SuBearu are getting along really well and are only separated in the morning long enough to eat. ABR said both cubs are always very happy to be reunited.
"The best distraction is the company of another cub, and we’re glad these four aren’t alone anymore," ABR said.