Hemlock Marks New Chapter for ABR

Appalachian Bear Rescue in Townsend has welcomed its first black bear cub in more than a year and a half, signaling a fresh start after a difficult stretch. The young male, named Hemlock and recorded as Bear #427, arrived at the end of July after being found alone near a residence in Gatlinburg.

A Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency officer rescued the cub on July 28. Neighbors had reported seeing him by himself for nearly two weeks. No one knows what happened to his mother. When he reached the rescue, Hemlock weighed just 7.7 pounds, less than half the weight a healthy cub of his age should carry this time of year. Healthy cubs typically tip the scales closer to 20 pounds by late July.

Veterinarians at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine gave him a full exam. He was otherwise in decent shape aside from some parasites, including ticks and a couple of botfly larvae that were removed. He started a careful deworming protocol and a slow refeeding plan that includes bear milk replacement formula, pellets, fruit, and other carefully chosen foods. Right now he is staying in the indoor Hartley House, where staff provide around-the-clock care. Once he gains enough weight and shows he can handle solid food, he will move into newly prepared outdoor enclosures designed to keep him wild and ready for eventual release.

The name Hemlock was chosen with care. It refers to the eastern hemlock trees that grow throughout these mountains. Those trees have faced serious challenges from an invasive insect yet continue to hold on with quiet toughness. The name fits both the little cub and the organization itself.

Appalachian Bear Rescue has operated just outside Great Smoky Mountains National Park since 1996, giving orphaned, injured, or sick black bears a second chance while working hard to keep them from becoming too comfortable around people. Over the years the facility has returned more than 400 bears to the wild. In late 2024 an illness swept through the enclosures, leading to the difficult decision to euthanize 13 cubs to protect the wider wild population. After that, the state paused placing new bears at the site until stronger sanitation measures and facility upgrades were in place.

That pause lasted about 18 months. During that time the rescue invested heavily, more than half a million dollars, in new protocols, improved enclosures, and reduced animal density. The arrival of Hemlock means the organization is once again fully operational, with 24-hour staffing and the capacity to take in cubs that need help. Staff describe the moment as the payoff for a long stretch of hard work and a clear sign that the rescue is ready for its next chapter in black bear conservation.

Hemlock’s care will follow the same careful path used with previous cubs: limited human contact so he stays wary of people, gradual strengthening, and eventual release into suitable wild habitat. Supporters can follow his progress and even symbolically adopt him to help cover the costs of food, medicine, and facility upkeep.

For anyone who lives near or visits the Smokies, the news is a reminder of the ongoing work that goes into protecting the black bears that share these ridges. Appalachian Bear Rescue’s return to full activity, marked by one small but determined cub, shows that second chances are still possible, for individual animals and for the programs that care for them.

That is the latest from the edge of the park, where one underweight cub is already beginning to put on weight and look toward a wild future.

Listen to Marc’s conversation with Greg Greico, the new Executive Director of Appalachian Bear Rescue, on My Smoky Mountain Guide Podcast.