Dec 01, 2020

Rescued Bear Released in Table Rock Watershed

South Carolina Department of Natural Resources rescued an abandoned cub in Pickens County in June of this year. The cub (only 20 pounds when discovered) had been stranded for several days in a tree while the mother bear had been run off by hunting dogs. Unfortunately, the dogs got a hold of the bear cub and caused some damage to its left ear.

The bear cub was originally discovered by a member of the Cherokee nation, who named her One Ear upon seeing her missing ear. Once rescued, the female bear cub was sent to Appalachian Bear Rescue in Tennessee to be rehabbed. The rehab facility (also noticing her missing ear) named her Sunflower, after a Van Gogh painting.

All bears rehabbed at the facility in Tennessee must be released back in the area they were found within a year, so naturally it was decided that our Table Rock watershed would be the safest place to release sweet One Ear aka Sunflower and give her time to settle in before winter and find a suitable den.

We wish Sunflower all the best and will be keeping an eye out for her on our watershed cameras.