SNN (ScrollingNetworkNews) ✿ ✿ Our Mel and Sydney returned to their nesting box with plenty of bonding occurring..but after 2.5 months of Sydney in the box from Dec 2013 to mid Feb 2014, the lack of prey gifts from Mel ( perhaps due to the severe and historic drought underway in California)and they have forgone the nesting process this year as many other raptors ✿ Compared to other owls of similar size, the Barn Owl has a much higher metabolic rate, requiring relatively more food. Pound for pound, Barn Owls consume more rodents – often regarded as pests by humans – than possibly any other creature. ✿ We remind viewers that sometimes owlets may not survive - the parents will dispose of things in "The Owl Way" -viewer discretion is advised, this is nature and the "Owl way". ✿ ~ ✿ “Animals, like us, are living souls. They are not things. They are not objects. Neither are they human. Yet they mourn. They love. They dance. They suffer. They know the peaks and chasms of being.” ― Gary Kowalski, The Souls of Animals ✿ Each species is a masterpiece, a creation assembled with extreme care and genius." ~ E.O. Wilson

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Nelson County Black Bear-Wildlife Center of Virgina

PATIENT: Black Bear, #12-0073

LOCATION OF RESCUE: Nelson County, VA

CONDITION: Thin

ADMISSION DATE: February 9, 2012

PROGNOSIS: Guarded

In early February, a homeowner in Afton, Virginia saw a young bear hanging around on his property. On February 9, several days after seeing the lone bear, the man was able to contain the small yearling in a barrel. He contacted the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, and the state bear biologist traveled to Afton to assess the situation. The bear biologist then transported the bear to the Wildlife Center.

Upon admission, Black Bear #12-0073 was settled into an enclosure in the Center’s holding room and received a brief preliminary examination. Dr. Adam Naylor observed the alert bear for a few moments and noted that the bear’s right eye appeared to be abnormal. The staff were able to obtain a weight on the young male Black Bear – it weighed in at just 3.94 kgs [8.67 lbs]. The bear is very underweight for its age; yearlings typically weigh at least 40 – 60 pounds.

On February 10, Dr. Adam and team sedated and anesthetized the bear for a physical examination, radiographs, and blood work. No apparent injuries were found on the bear’s body, and radiographs had no significant findings. Dr. Adam and Dr. Dave were able to assess the bear’s right eye more closely under anesthesia. They found that the bear is completely blind in that eye — while it’s difficult to interpret what happened, the veterinarians think that he may either have been a congenital issue, or an old injury that has healed. There have been known reports of one-eyed Black Bears doing fine in the wild, so the team hopes that this will not be an issue for the cub.

Blood work will be reviewed on the afternoon of February 10. At this point, the bear’s main issue is that it is very thin. The team can’t be sure why the yearling is under-sized and under-weight, but similar to the Suffolk bear cub, he just needs some time to put on weight.
The bear will be observed in the Center’s indoor holding facility for the next 24-48 hours, and then will be settled into the Center’s bear pen.

Interesting Information about Black Bears in Virginia

Bear Facts

http://www.dgif.state.va.us/wildlife/bearfacts.pdf