Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums"They Just Look...Pathetic." Bear Mange Surges in Virginia
(Field & Stream) Many bears in Virginia are afflicted with mange, a highly contagious skin disease caused by skin-burrowing mites that can impact wild and domestic mammals. The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) has documented 75 reports of mangy bears this year, which wildlife biologist Katie Martin says is on par with 2020s total of 113 reports. Martin adds that the estimate is likely conservative because it only reflects direct reports to the DWR. Virginias black bear population is estimated at 17,000. In the six years prior to 2020, Virginia recorded just 81 mange reports.
Virginia isnt the only state seeing an increasing spread of mange in its bear populations. In 2018, mange surged in Pennsylvanias black bear population, prompting research into medical treatments, disease spread, and the influence of genetic factors. That ongoing study is scheduled to wrap up this winter when the tracked bears radio collars are removed. Mark Ternent, a Pennsylvania wildlife biologist, estimated that in June 2018 somewhere between 1 and 3 percent of the states bears had mange. Mange reports began showing up in Pennsylvania in 1991. Since then, it has spread in bear populations from West Virginia up to New England.
Virginia is currently looking at studying modes of mange transmission, the spread rate, potential pathways, and other factors contributing to the recent increases. Mange often isnt fatal, but it makes bears miserable. The mites burrow into the skin and lay eggs, which creates intense discomfort for the host animal. Animals can lose much of their fur and become dangerously ill. Captured bears with the most severe cases are often put down.
They just look in pathetic shape, David Kocka, a district wildlife biologist for the Virginia DWR, told Charlottesville Tomorrow. What we see is when they get to a certain stage where theyre so unhappy with life, they feel so horrible that [its] like theyre losing their minds. Theyll crawl into somebodys doghouse and stay there for a couple days, or theyll crawl under their deck, or in a garage. .............(more)
https://www.fieldandstream.com/conservation/bear-mange-affects-virginia-bear-population/?
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
9 replies, 1067 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (12)
ReplyReply to this post
9 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
"They Just Look...Pathetic." Bear Mange Surges in Virginia (Original Post)
marmar
Sep 2021
OP
DURHAM D
(32,606 posts)1. oohhh Sad nt
MustLoveBeagles
(11,583 posts)2. Poor baby
underpants
(182,604 posts)3. I wonder how their lack of fur will affect them in winter.
Poor bears.
2naSalit
(86,324 posts)6. They will freese to death.
That's what happened to the Druid Peak pack of Wolves in YNP several years ago. Sarcoptic mange infected the pack and they lost all their fur by scratching at the itching microbes in their skin and then they have no fur which protects them in winter. Bears may live through at least one winter due to denning/hibernation.
It's a horrible thing for any animal to suffer through.
underpants
(182,604 posts)7. That sucks.
2naSalit
(86,324 posts)8. It sure does.
Klaralven
(7,510 posts)4. Now that's something ivermectin will cure...
jmbar2
(4,862 posts)5. Ivermectin shortage?
appalachiablue
(41,103 posts)9. Awful, so sad