On December 2, a Black Bear cub was found on the side of the road in Augusta County, unable to move. The bear was admitted to the Wildlife Center that same evening.
Dr. Cam, one of the Center's veterinary interns, examined the female bear when she was admitted. The bear was very quiet, though did respond to some stimulation. The cub was sedated for a full physical exam. Dr. Cam found that the bear was in poor body condition, had a patchy hair coat, and thickening of the skin -- all classic symptoms of mange. A skin scraping confirmed the presence of sarcoptic mange mites. The bear weighed 8.17 kg.
Since there are two other mange-positive bears recovering in the Center's bear pen, this new cub was moved to the Center's Large Mammal Isolation enclosure for recovery. The bear was placed into the chute that connects both halves of the enclosure; this will ensure that the cub can be readily monitored and treated, and will keep the contagious bear confined to a smaller area during these initial weeks of recovery. Once the bear is readily eating, she'll be treated with an oral medication for mange.