This Baby Bear Was Stranded Alone By A River Then It Found Safety In The Most Extraordinary Way

Once upon a time, in the lush forests of Tennessee, a baby American black bear named Noli found herself in a precarious situation. Separated from her mother, Noli was stranded alone along the banks of the Nola Chucky River. The sun beat down mercilessly, and the little cub was starving, her tiny body weak and frail. Despite the cool waters of the river nearby, she was possibly suffering from heatstroke, and her situation was dire. Noli needed help, but more importantly, she needed the courage to trust those who would ultimately save her life.

In early July of the previous year, a group of river guides from USA Raft were navigating the rapids near their base when they stumbled upon the little bear. Normally, black bears would retreat deeper into the forest upon spotting humans, but Noli was different. For several days, she lingered in the same spot, causing confusion among the guides. Matt Moses, the owner of USA Raft, recalled how his team was concerned for the little cub. “My guys kept coming back to me saying they had no idea what to do. We didn’t want to see this little bear die on the side of the river,” he said.

As the days passed, Noli grew thinner, and her mother was nowhere to be found. Yet, despite her dire circumstances, Noli’s curiosity about the river guides began to blossom. The guides decided to name her after the river, and soon, Noli was no longer climbing trees in fear when they passed by. Instead, she would wade out to the river’s edge, inching closer to the humans who had become her unlikely observers.

Each day, as the rafters approached the bank, Noli’s curiosity and hunger began to overshadow her natural fears. She would walk toward them, and eventually, she even swam out toward one of their rafts. On one fateful day, a guide from another rafting company, Danny Allen, pulled over, and to everyone’s astonishment, Noli climbed right into the raft. “We see bears fairly often, but we’ve never seen anything like this,” Moses exclaimed. “This is the first time I’ve ever heard of a bear getting in a raft.”

While black bears are generally less aggressive than their grizzly counterparts, they are known to avoid humans. Noli’s leap of faith was nothing short of extraordinary. Once safely back on solid ground, the rescue team contacted the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, which quickly arrived to transport the little cub to the Appalachian Bear Rescue (ABR) organization in Townsend.

Established in 1996, ABR is a nonprofit dedicated to rehabilitating orphaned and injured black bears, preparing them for a return to the wild. Upon her arrival, Noli was taken to the University of Tennessee veterinary school for a thorough checkup. The veterinarians discovered that she was severely dehydrated and possibly suffering from heatstroke. After spending some time under medical observation and drinking plenty of fluids, Noli began to regain her strength.

As she recovered, Noli was moved to the rehabilitation center at ABR, where she was expected to integrate with other bears. Her appetite returned quickly, and she developed a fondness for grapes and applesauce, which were great for her hydration. Dana Dodd, the board president of the rescue center, noted, “Those things are great for her because they’re filled with water.” However, Noli still had a lot of growing up to do before she could be released back into the wild. Typically, black bear cubs stay with their mothers until they are about 16 months old. To ensure Noli’s survival, the center aimed to keep her in rehabilitation until she weighed at least 50 pounds. At that weight, even if she was still young, she would have a better chance of survival.

Fortunately, Noli didn’t disappoint. She was a healthy eater and gained weight quickly, transforming into a robust, roly-poly black bear. By November 9, 2015, the rehabilitation center was ready to release Noli and three of her bear friends back into the forest. The team celebrated the culmination of their mission, stating, “It’s what you and ABR have been working towards since the day they arrived. They are big, healthy cubs.”

The weights of the bears ranged from 77 to 97 pounds, and the center wished them a long and happy life. To give Noli the best chance at survival, the team released her close to where the river rafting guides had originally found her. To keep track of her movements, Appalachian Bear Rescue fitted her with a radio collar and identifiable ear tags.

Noli’s heartwarming story quickly garnered attention, making her many fans, even from as far away as Australia, Europe, and Asia. In fact, when ABR auctioned off a felt replica of the little bear, the bids poured in, ultimately fetching more than $500 for the charity. This was a testament to the impact Noli had made, proving that she was much more than just an average bear.

As Noli ventured back into the wild, she carried with her the spirit of resilience and the hope of survival. Her journey from a stranded cub to a healthy bear was a reminder of the extraordinary bonds that can form between humans and wildlife. Noli’s story inspired many to advocate for the protection of bears and their habitats, ensuring that future generations of bears would have the chance to thrive in the wild.

In the end, Noli’s tale was not just about survival; it was about trust, courage, and the incredible power of compassion. As she roamed the forests of Tennessee, she became a symbol of hope, reminding everyone that even in the darkest of times, help can come from the most unexpected places. And so, the little bear who once stood alone by the river found her way back to the wild, forever changed by the kindness of those who chose to believe in her.