In April, a video went viral showing a group of people at an Asheville apartment complex taking a black bear cub out of a tree for photos. That bear cub is now back in its natural habitat after being released in an undisclosed, remote area of WNC last month.
After the NC Wildlife Resources Commission rescued the bear, it received care at Appalachian Wildlife Refuge. Once NCWRC staff deemed the cub fit to survive in the wild, she was released with a tracking collar and identifying tags. The NCWRC’s Bearwise Coordinator Ashley Hobbs said, “The GPS collar data shows that she is adjusting well to life back in the wild.”
The NCWRC shared a video of the bear’s release, where you can see the handler using a “scare-away” screamer siren so the bear retains its innate fear of humans.
If you need to brush up on your Bearwise basics, the network of wildlife officials + researchers has tips for what to do if you encounter a bear at home or outdoors.
