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Bear dragged from a tree by people wanting selfies with the cub released back to the wild

PRE News & Ideas | By Annette Weston
Published November 21, 2024 at 10:23 AM EST
Once staff determined "selfie bear" was healthy and could successfully survive in the wild, she was fitted with a tracking collar and given identifying tags and marks before being released.
N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission
Once staff determined "selfie bear" was healthy and could successfully survive in the wild, she was fitted with a tracking collar and given identifying tags and marks before being released.

The cub that received national attention after it was pulled from a tree in Asheville so people could take selfies holding her has been released back into the wild.

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission rescued the baby bear from a nearby retention pond; a second cub, presumably her sibling, was seen running away in the video and was never found.

Once staff determined she was healthy and could successfully survive in the wild, the "selfie bear" was fitted with a tracking collar and given identifying tags and marks before being released.

Bearwise Coordinator Ashley Hobbs said the GPS collar data shows that she is adjusting well to life back in the wild.
Annette Weston
Annette is originally a Midwest gal, born and raised in Michigan, but with career stops in many surrounding states, the Pacific Northwest, and various parts of the southeast. An award-winning journalist and mother of four, Annette moved to eastern North Carolina in 2019 to be closer to family – in particular, her two young grandchildren. It’s possible that a -27 day with a -68 windchill in Minnesota may have also played a role in that decision. In her spare time, Annette does a lot of kiddo cuddling, reading, and producing the coolest Halloween costumes anyone has ever seen. She has also worked as a diversity and inclusion facilitator serving school districts and large corporations. It’s the people that make this beautiful area special, and she wants to share those stories that touch the hearts of others. If you have a story idea to share, please reach out by email to westona@cravencc.edu.
See stories by Annette Weston