Black Bear cub #19-1176 [Orange Tag] update

The Center veterinary team received results from the necropsy and additional post-mortem diagnostics of Black Bear cub #19-1176 [Orange Tag]. The diagnosis: canine distemper.

In the wild, bears can be exposed to this virus and can be latent carriers; generally, individuals are not affected unless they are severely immunocompromised or have another underlying issue. It’s not common for a wild Black Bear cub to be diagnosed with this viral disease, but it is reported in captive facilities. It’s difficult to confirm if the bear was exposed to the viral infection before or after admission to the Wildlife Center; in dogs, the incubation period of the virus is seven days, though there is no conclusive study to indicate what the period is for Black Bears. This cub spent one month at the Center and was admitted very underweight, anemic, and with a severe tick infestation – essentially, the cub was very immunocompromised.

There is no treatment for distemper other than supportive care, so knowing the diagnosis wouldn’t have changed the Center’s treatment protocol during the one-month period that the cub was at the Center.