On the morning of July 15, the Center’s veterinary staff and a VDGIF biologist prepared for the release of four yearling black bears - #14-0657, #14-0142, #14-0301, and #14-0364.
The veterinary team headed to the Black Bear Complex to dart the yearlings at about 9:15 a.m. Bears #14-0657 and #14-0301 were darted in trees; #14-0657 climbed down quickly after she was darted. Bear #14-0301 proved to be more stubborn; the bear began to feel the effects of sedation while still in the tree, so Dr. Dave, Dr. Rich, and the VDGIF biologist stood at the base of the tree holding a sturdy blanket to catch the bear in case he fell. The bear slowly climbed down on his own. The bears were examined, weighed, and loaded into the DGIF transport trap.
Bear #14-0364 was also darted while in the crotch of a tree. Unlike the other two yearlings, this bear did not climb down the tree after he was darted. Anesthesia quickly took effect in this bear; the “catch team” was unable to get to the base of the tree in time. The bear fell approximately 30 feet from the tree.
The team carefully examined the bear once it was fully anesthetized and noted some abnormalities with the bear’s jaw. Bear #14-0364 was brought into the hospital for a thorough exam and radiographs to determine if the bear’s jaw was fractured during the fall. No obvious fractures were noted on radiographs, though it can be difficult to appreciate injuries in the skull region due to the density and overlap of numerous bones.
The veterinary staff was unable to close the bear’s mouth, which could indicate that there is a dislocation in the jaw that was not identified on radiographs. The bear was placed in the Center’s Large Mammal isolation facility. A camera was placed in the enclosure so staff can monitor the bear during the next few days.
Once it became clear that bear #14-0364 would not be released today, The Center’s new veterinary fellow, Dr. Helen Ingraham, successfully darted female bear #14-0142 without incident.
Bears #14-0657, 14-0142, and 14-0301 were healthy and in good body condition. Below are the yearlings’ weights:
Female Yearling #14-0657 – 21.8 kg.
Female Yearling #14-0142 – 19.5 kg.
Male Yearling #14-0301 – 32 kg.
The three bears will be released in the western half of Virginia.