In a heartwarming slice of wildlife news, an orphaned bear cub that had been missing for nearly a month has been safely captured and reunited with its siblings, the Appalachian Bear Rescue (ABR) announced Friday. The cub's mother was euthanized after an incident at a Gatlinburg motel, leaving her quartet of cubs in need of rescue. Though initially, only three were found, the search for the elusive fourth continued in earnest.

The successful capture came after a meticulous search by ABR, alongside the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Gatlinburg Police, and local residents determined to aid the reunification. In a statement obtained by WVLT, ABR detailed the exhaustive efforts which finally concluded when a Gatlinburg hotel maintenance manager discovered the cub 100 yards from where it had become orphaned. The rescue was cautious throughout the search, not wanting to mistakenly "rescue" a cub that wasn't actually orphaned.

What made this cub stand out from the rest was its distinctive chest blaze. WATE reports the cub also bore white paint marks from previous escapades, which aided in its identification. Once the cub was located, a team from ABR and the TWRA set a trap baited with doughnut pieces and cake crumbs that quickly enticed the young bear, as stated on Facebook.

The cub, affectionately named "Special Sauce" to align with the "Gatlinburgher" theme given to its siblings, is now undergoing care. According to WBIR, veterinarians at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine treated the cub for mild dehydration and addressed the paint in its fur. Special Sauce Bear, will spend the next few days acclimating and receiving deworming treatment before joining Patty, Pickles, and Mac in their enclosure.

With the reconnection of this young bruin and its siblings, the number of cubs in ABR's current care rises to 25.