Incubator prepared to house 3 tiny cubs arrives at bear rescue
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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — An incubator has arrived at Appalachian Bear Rescue in Tennessee in preparation for three tiny cubs to be welcomed to the rescue.
ABR has been preparing for the cubs, who are estimated to be only days to weeks old, to return to the rescue from the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine (UTCVM) where they have been cared for since last weekend.
At the end of January, ABR rescued brothers Nibbles and Bits after their mother was spooked by a Blount County resident clearing a tree that had fallen during storms. Both cubs weighed less than a pound. Unfortunately, Nibbles only survived for a few days at the Rescue, prompting curators to take Bits back to UTCVM for care in the ICU.
Bits was not alone for long, however, as two more cubs, named Pawley and Carolina, came to the rescue after they were rescued by firefighters during a wildfire in South Carolina just 3 days after Nibbles’ death. Since, the cubs have all been at UTCVM receiving round-the-clock care.
While the cubs are still tiny, ABR has been working to set up the tools needed for the cubs to return to the rescue when they are ready. This has included working with UTCVM to learn how ICU incubators work and purchasing an incubator. Previously, when Nibbles and Bits were at ABR’s Cub House, they were kept warm in an incubator that was loaned to the rescue by Zoo Knoxville, but ABR announced on Saturday that their incubator had arrived and was being set up. The incubator has since been set up by ABR curators and connected to a humidifier.
ABR previously shared that they are hopeful the cubs would be back at the rescue within the week.
The search is continuing to find surrogate families for the cubs, ABR said, but they are prepared to give the cubs the best possible care as long as they are at the rescue. Den checks, which is how surrogate families are found for cubs, typically happen later in February, the rescue added.
ABR has also released that all three cubs are doing well and are eating up to 30% of their body weight every day.
