Scientists are studying a strange and lethal condition in young California black bears that causes them to show no fear around humans.
Several bears near Lake Tahoe have died in the last two years from the disease, which affects their brains, KTVU reported.
Even bears in densely-populated areas that are used to people tend to shy away from humans, but the sick bears don’t run away. Videos show them in close proximity to people.
The condition causes their brains to become inflamed, the Bee reported. Researchers are still trying to determine the cause of the illness. Scientists have found five new viruses in bears showing symptoms. However, it is unclear if the viruses are to blame for the bears’ condition. Many of the bears have encephalitis, tremors and a small head tilt, the Bee reported. The viruses do not appear to be a risk to people.
“The viruses that they detected in these bears were not ones particularly known to affect humans,” Jamie Sherman, a veterinarian at the University of California Davis’ One Health Institute, told the Bee.
Scientists have studied the condition since 2014 in bears throughout the state, the Bee reported. They have captured three diseased bears in the last year.
Cox Media Group
