Sick Bears in the Sierra Nevada

[ski3pin]

Not much substance to the story making the rounds this morning, but it still caught my attention. It will be interesting to follow as real data is reported.

Mysterious Disease Killing Young Bears in the Sierra Nevada

 

[craig333]

I saw that. I wonder if it will turn out to be environmental?

 

[Ronin]

I recently read Joe Hutto's book about the Rocky Mountain Big Horn Sheep Study conducted in the Wind River Range - "The Light In High Places"- and had the same thoughts as Craig333.

 

[pvstoy]

Even Birds... In winter I can have anywhere from 20 to 90 Quail in the back yard daily. This winter I might have seen 1 or 2. There had been a kill off and have not talked to a local expert person yet. Even Flickers have vanished. Not likely to see one in the nesting box this year.

 

[Stray Dog]

Here's a study addressing part of the problem...

https://phys.org/news/2021-03-mass-bird-die-off-linked-wildfires.html

One more reason to re-focus public lands and forest management on wildfire fuel reductions through prescribed fire and mechanical means...

 

[Taku]

This winter there was quite of bit of salmonella poisoning reported in bird populations in the west. I believe transmitted through feces at feeder concentrations.

 

[ski3pin]

More details -

Sickly Black Bears