An emaciated Black Bear startled skiers at McCauley Mountain when it emerged from the woods onto Helmer’s Lane on Sunday, March 10.
A chairlift operator was the first to spot the unhealthy-looking bear between towers seven and eight on Helmer’s early in the afternoon, according to McCauley employee Andrée Newton.
The bear caused concern, notably because it appeared at a time of year when most bears are still hibernating.
McCauley staff called Town of Webb Police Chief John Russell, who responded to the call with Officer A.J. Silverman.
Chief Russell observed the bear for approximately 25 minutes and reported that its fur was sparse and was so emaciated that its hip bones and ribs were showing through its skin. It also had trouble walking.
Chief Russell determined the bear was obviously suffering and beyond rehabilitation and made the decision to euthanize it.
McCauley ski patrol personnel roped off Helmer’s and the chairlift was temporarily shut down to provide a safe environment in which to dispatch the bear.
The bear was wrapped in a tarp and transported downhill by sled before it was taken away by truck.
Chief Russell and Officer Silverman then contacted Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Officer Russ Ritzel who came to the scene and photographed the animal.
“The bear had an obvious severe mange infection and malnutrition from fighting the infection and hibernation stress,” said DEC spokesman Steve Litwhiler.
The bear evidently went into the denning period with a pre-existing mange infection, which got worse through the winter.
Litwhiler said that as a bear loses hair, it loses insulation which speeds up heat loss.
“Animals burn through reserves faster, thus emerging from the den earlier than normal. Starvation was most likely what was killing the animal.”
Litwhiler’s information was provided by DEC Wildlife Biologist Steven Heerkens.
According to Litwhiler, this is the seventh case of mange in bears reported within Herkimer County in the last three years.
“Mange in bears is not unheard of, but is not common. This is the second case of mange in bears from Old Forge in the last year. And a similar animal was picked up this past February in Little Falls,” he said.
“Region 5 DEC (which includes Hamilton County) had two cases of mange this past winter and recovered one of those animals for examination. All the animals examined have the canine mange. We also check for rabies in all clinical wildlife.”
Litwhiler said that the response to the incident by McCauley staff and Webb law enforcement personnel was conducted in a correct manner.
“Euthanizing an animal is always the option of last resort, but in some cases cannot be avoided, such as when we encounter sick acting clinical wildlife—especially big game. The correct thing was done with this animal,” he said.
Heerkens said that mange cases in bears are probably linked to mange severity in fox and coyotes. Though Herkimer County seems to be experiencing this phenomenon, mange has been found in other parts of the state over the years as well.
“Animals can survive mild infections, especially if they have sufficient resources. Our state pathologist is interested in the genetic signature of the mites causing the infection and why bears seem to be getting these severe cases from canine strain mites,” he said.
Diseased animals are removed from the landscape to protect human health and to aid in the detection and understanding of diseases with which New York’s wildlife might be infected, he added.
The DEC is currently conducting tests on the bear taken at McCauley.
