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Bare-faced B.C. bear has wildlife watchers befuddled

The animal devoid of fur around the eyes and snout was spotted in Port Renfrew on April 12
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A black bear looking rather disheveled was snapped in Port Renfrew on April 12.

Not everyone can wake up looking a million dollars after a power nap, and the same can be said for B.C.香蕉视频直播檚 black bears emerging from their winter hibernation.

One bear in particular was caught looking all the worse for wear in Port Renfrew by Jennifer Heinrichs, who was stopped in her tracks on April 12 when she spotted the animal devoid of fur around the eyes and snout.

香蕉视频直播淚 didn't really pay attention to the missing fur on the face, initially I was just enamoured with the animal and watching what it was doing and getting decent shots of it,香蕉视频直播 said Heinrichs, who took the photos from a safe distance, inside her car.

香蕉视频直播淚t did look strange, it looked like it was wearing a mask like the Phantom of the Opera. Otherwise, he was really healthy 香蕉视频直播 it香蕉视频直播檚 fat, and it's clearly had a good winter.香蕉视频直播

Wanting to get to the bottom of what was causing the bear香蕉视频直播檚 hair loss, Heinrichs shared her snap in the Field Naturalists of Vancouver Island Facebook group.

Here she was met with a wave of theories, including mange, a burn injury and frostbite, through to allegations of Heinrichs faking the image using AI technology.

The allegations were quickly dismissed by the group香蕉视频直播檚 moderator Laura Briggs, who ensures all posts are checked and approved before publishing. 香蕉视频直播淎 more conscientious moderator doesn't exist,香蕉视频直播 said Heinrichs. 香蕉视频直播淪he spends hours a day on it.香蕉视频直播

Heinrichs also reached out to wildlife experts for help, including Northern Lights Wildlife Society in Smithers, who suggested the bare-faced bear could be suffering from 香蕉视频直播渃lassic demodex ursi,香蕉视频直播 a skin mite unique to black bears.

Residing in the hair follicles of black bears, the mites can cause a condition called demodicosis, which can lead to hair loss and other skin irritations.

香蕉视频直播淣ot contagious, hair will grow back,香蕉视频直播 said a representative from Northern Lights Wildlife Society in an email to Heinrichs.

Founder of Vancouver Island香蕉视频直播檚 North Island Wildlife Recovery Association Robin Campbell also feels there is no cause for concern.

香蕉视频直播淚 wouldn香蕉视频直播檛 worry about that bear, there's a lot of things that can be going on, but it could be just part of the spring coat blowout, which our bears get sometimes 香蕉视频直播 they grow in beautifully,香蕉视频直播 he told Sooke News Mirror in an email. 香蕉视频直播淚t could be a mite, but bears are very strong and will do fine.香蕉视频直播



Ben Fenlon

About the Author: Ben Fenlon

Multimedia journalist with the Greater Victoria news team.
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