On the evening of May 29, a Black Bear yearling was seen foraging in a field in Rappahannock County, Virginia. About a half an hour later, someone spotted the bear in a ditch beside the road – likely after it was hit by a vehicle.
The bear was admitted to the Wildlife Center at about 9:30 p.m. that same evening. Dr. Kristin Britton, the Center’s veterinary intern, examined the bear when it arrived. She found that the thin, female yearling was severely injured – the bear had signs consistent with head trauma, including changes in the size of her pupils, seizure-like activity, and nystagmus [back-and-forth eye movements]. An ultrasound was performed to check for internal bleeding; none was noted.
Dr. Kristin and veterinary externship students administered medication to alleviate head trauma, as well as pain medication. Dr. Kristin was able to feel a fracture in the bear’s forelimb, but first addressed the head trauma and attempted to make the bear more comfortable. The team also spent time removing a large number of ticks from the bear.
Radiographs confirmed fractures of the radius and ulna of the bear’s left forelimb. After the bear was stabilized, the fractured leg was splinted. If the bear is able to survive the severe head trauma injuries, the fracture should be able to be successfully repaired. Dr. Kristin settled the bear into a secure zinger crate and was able to go home at about 1:00 a.m.
The bear will be closely monitored throughout the weekend and will be offered a soft, highly digestible diet.