https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Mammals/Black-Bear/Bloghttps://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Mammals/Black-Bear/Blog/listless-carnelian-bay-bear-suffered-from-cancerCarnelian BayThu, 08 Oct 2020 17:02:17 GMT

A listless black bear reported in the Carnelian Bay area of Lake Tahoe was captured by CDFW, evaluated by CDFW veterinarians, and diagnosed to be suffering from late stage cancer.

<p><strong>A sedated, immobilized Carnelian Bay black bear awaits a wildlife veterinarian's examination inside CDFW's Wildlife Investigations Lab near Sacramento. <em>CDFW photo.</em></strong></p> <p>As wildlife managers, California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) staff are trained to hope for the best while preparing for the worst.</p> <p>Last weekend, a CDFW environmental scientist specializing in human-wildlife conflicts responded to worried reports about a very sick or injured bear in the Carnelian Bay area of northern Lake Tahoe in Placer County. These reports were bolstered by a troubling video clip that showed a staggering bear slowly entering a small patch of habitat in a residential area. When CDFW arrived at the scene, the listless animal was located under a nearby structure.</p> <p style="max-width: 600px;">Finding a bear that was mostly non-responsive, CDFW acted swiftly under animal welfare protocols to anesthetize the bruin and transport it to its Wildlife Investigations Lab near Sacramento for further expert evaluation. A veterinarian’s exam confirmed a severely dehydrated and emaciated adult female black bear with sunken eyes, protruding bones, and only weighing 115 pounds – or about half the average size for a female bear more than 10 years of age.</p> <p>The bear’s significantly compromised condition, coupled with abnormal swelling of her mammary glands and other lesions, led CDFW to a presumptive diagnosis of “end-stage metastatic cancer.” As such, this animal’s suffering was ended as swiftly and humanely as possible, and the initial diagnosis was later confirmed via necropsy.</p>