California ’s inglorious bear are being fascinate by a mysterious brain disease that makes them behave in a well-disposed and unafraid way . As theneurological disease build , however , it ’s also linked to languor , a dramatic departure of weight , a distinct head tilt , tremors , and an unusual gait . Left untreated , the disease can be venomous .
California Department of Fish and Wildlife(CDFW ) documented some of the first cases back in 2014 after they were alert to a identification number of young black bear in the Tahoe Basin with apparent neurological abnormalities . A phone number of similar cases have since been document in a range of California counties .
One report from Pollock Pines in El Dorado County last month appear to describe the situation quite well . A diminished black bear was spotted alone at a usefulness worksite . Along with appearing lethargic and possibly sick , the animal was almost wholly unfazed by people prove to shoo away it forth with claps and yells . Eventually , the CDFW received another call about a similar report in their backyard .
“ When a CDFW wildlife biologist and warden snuff it to investigate , they happen a site becoming more common in the Tahoe Basin and elsewhere around the state . They found a bear too young to be out on its own , " pawl - like " in its behavior , all comfortable around hoi polloi , pick up an apple to eat in front of them on the backyard patio . Physically and mentally , the bear just did n’t seem quite right , walking queerly , slow , and not responsive like a normal bear should be , ” the CDFW said in astatement .
The black bear was taken in for observation and rating by veterinarians , which revealed it was undersized and drastically underweight for its age . After a week , they were forced to euthanize the bear .
The reason of the unusual disease is queer scientists . Preliminary post - mortem results and CT scans of the stirred bears evoke they are suffering from cephalitis , an inflammation of the mastermind tissue paper typically due to infectious agent like a computer virus , fungi , or bacteria . Wildlife biologists at the CDFW say the root causal agent of the disease is presently nameless , but they have uncovered some intriguing clues , namely the bearing of five never - before - see virus within the bears .
Reporting the discovery in the journalPLOS One , the investigator at the CDFW and the University of California Davis say new viruses belong to five genus : Circoviridae , Parvoviridae , Anelloviridae , Polyomaviridae , andPapillomaviridae . It ’s also noteworthy that the virus was detected in the bear ’s liver , spleen , and – critically – psyche tissue .
The symptom of the disease all obligate some similarities tochronic squander diseaseseen in deer , elk , and moose across many portion of the US . Also known as the “ zombie disease ” , it causes a range of coinage to suffer from drastic weight unit loss , stumbling , drooling , lack of coordination , aggression , and other abnormal behavior . This neurologic disease is thought to be make byprions , a misfolded protein thatacts as an infective agent .
While the tender to understand this bear eruption continues , the world is being warn to keep a respectable distance from any black bear , specially those displaying suspiciously well-disposed deportment . After all , it ’s not yet clear whether this disease is a menace to humans or other wildlife .
