Wildlife officials call this “bad behavior.”
It isn’t. It’s bear behavior.
“Mistreating Mother Nature is like being ugly to your mama”
– Dolly Parton
Call Gov. Stein Now to Pardon Dolly
(919)814-2000 Press #5
Governors in Minnesota, Alaska, and New Hampshire have all faced this same choice before — and chose relocation over euthanasia for bears in situations just like Dolly’s. Every time, it worked, and public trust in wildlife management grew stronger, not weaker.
Email Governor Stein to Pardon Dolly
Add your voice and ask Governor Josh Stein to pardon Dolly, relocate her with her cubs, and commit to protecting our wildlife instead of destroying it.
Sign the Petition
Pardon Dolly: Give Asheville’s Bear a Second Chance
To: Governor Josh Stein and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
We, the undersigned residents and friends of western North Carolina, respectfully call on Governor Josh Stein to grant a pardon to Dolly, the black bear currently facing euthanasia in the Asheville area — and to direct wildlife officials to pursue relocation or sanctuary placement instead.
National Precedence
Other communities have successfully saved bears with similar human habituation, and it was all thanks to the Governor. Let’s make sure Josh Stein knows this is something our community strongly believes in, and ask for his support and compassion!
Why Name a bear Dolly?
Help us save Mama Bear Dolly, proudly named for the late and loved Dolly Parton. We’re asking the Governor’s Office to Pardon Dolly. Like Dolly Parton, this black bear is a native of these mountains. She did not choose the circumstances that brought her here, but her story does not have to end because of them. One act of mercy, one decision to choose compassion over destruction, could change the course of her life.
I get that not everyone will approve of naming a black bear who is being painted as the villain after a beloved American legend. But, I think Dolly Parton herself would. In fact, I think it’s the best way to honor her. She was more than her music, her philanthropy, and her books—because those were just the symptoms of something deeper. Her compassion, humility, love, kindness, and generosity are who she was, and from there she chose to live a life that made others’ lives better.
Born in the heart of Appalachia, Dolly Parton never forgot the mountains that raised her, and she carried with her a deep love that led her to support monarch butterfly habitiat, bald eagles, homeless domestic animals, and native wildlife.
Growing up in poverty as one of 12 children, she was given opportunities, encouragement, and second chances that helped her build an extraordinary life. Yet even after finding success, she spent decades giving back, helping children, families, and communities because she believed in kindness, compassion, and lifting others up.
Dolly Parton showed us that where you start should not determine how your story ends. She taught us that small acts of kindness can create lasting change. Today, we ask our leaders to honor that spirit by giving Dolly the bear a second chance.
Media Contact / Inquiries: Hannah Furgiuele
Pardon Dolly The Bear 