KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency leadership held a press conference Thursday to explain their recent decision to euthanize bear cubs housed at the local Appalachian Bear Rescue.
University of Tennessee School of Natural Resources Wildlife Veterinarian Dr. Dan Grove said during the press conference that the bears could still possibly carry disease they had out into the wild. As a result, state wildlife officials elected to euthanize 13 bear cubs to help protect the broader bear population.