Black Bear #18-2293 update

On September 3, Black Bear #18-2293 was sedated and anesthetized for a follow-up examination. Dr. Peach performed a physical exam and found that the bear was still thin and had not gained additional weight since her last examination. The bear’s skin and coat were both improved though, with some of the crusting on the bear’s flanks and ears starting to fall off. Skin scrapings revealed only three dead mange mites, indicating that the medication is killing off the parasites.

The bear’s blood work revealed a significant amount of toxic neutrophils, indicating a systemic infection. An infection would explain the bear’s quiet attitude and intermittent inappetence, though there’s no clear explanation why the bear’s blood work is this abnormal. Dr. Peach started the bear on a course of antibiotics; the bear will no longer be in the mange medication study and will be sedated again in two weeks to repeat blood work and skin scrapings.