Sarcoptic Mange
Sarcoptic mange is caused by a microscopic mite that burrows under an animal's skin and causes a hypersensitivity reaction that can lead to declines in health and can even lead to death in some cases. This same species of mite, Sarcoptes scabiei, causes scabies in humans, and is known to affect over 100 different species of mammals globally. It burrows into the skin and the adult females lay eggs in these burrows. The mites and the detritus they leave behind (egg casings, dead mites, feces) causes intense itching in the affected host. This evokes a hypersensitivity response (allergic response) from the host which can lead to thickened skin, termed "crusted" or "Norwegian scabies" in humans.
While mange has historically been present in red fox and coyote populations in Pennsylvania and the Northeast United States, it was rare in black bears in the Northeast prior to the 1990's. It was first reported in Pennsylvania in 1991 and has since increased in the number of reported cases each year and increased in geographic range, with increased number of reports from surrounding states in recent years. Typically mange is transmitted through direct contact, consequently it can be transmitted from a mother to her cubs. However, it is not currently known how it may be transmitted in the bear population otherwise, as black bears are typically solitary animals other than mothers with their offspring and during breeding season. Other questions that currently remain unanswered include why mange is now reported in black bear populations when it wasn't in the recent past, the effects of mange on black bear health, movement, and reproduction, and the effects of treatment. This study aims to address some of these questions.
While mange has historically been present in red fox and coyote populations in Pennsylvania and the Northeast United States, it was rare in black bears in the Northeast prior to the 1990's. It was first reported in Pennsylvania in 1991 and has since increased in the number of reported cases each year and increased in geographic range, with increased number of reports from surrounding states in recent years. Typically mange is transmitted through direct contact, consequently it can be transmitted from a mother to her cubs. However, it is not currently known how it may be transmitted in the bear population otherwise, as black bears are typically solitary animals other than mothers with their offspring and during breeding season. Other questions that currently remain unanswered include why mange is now reported in black bear populations when it wasn't in the recent past, the effects of mange on black bear health, movement, and reproduction, and the effects of treatment. This study aims to address some of these questions.
Bear Movement Study
Penn State University and the Pennsylvania Game Commission have teamed up to study the effects of sarcoptic mange and effects of treatment for mange on black bear movement in North Central Pennsylvania. To date, 49 bears have been equipped with GPS collars that transmit movement data daily with 24 bears still currently wearing GPS collars for this study. Several samples indicative of health status are collected when bears are originally collared and during den checks when bears are in their dens during the winter months. All sampling and handling are conducted under approval of Penn State IACUC and the PA Game Commission.
Updated May 2020
Updated May 2020
Media Coverage
- "Black Bear Mange Recovery Story". Interviewed by Mandy Marconi, filmed and produced by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. March 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-APOjVm0V3g
- “Study seeks to analyze ticks, mange in black bears”. Interviewed and written by Meredith Peachey. Tioga Publishing. December 2019. http://www.tiogapublishing.com/news/local/study-seeks-to-analyze-ticks-mange-in-black-bears/article_05d04ddc-adff-5518-ab58-f40cd02fff34.html
- “Getting a read on bear mange”. Interviewed and written by Asher Jones. Pennsylvania Wildlife. Fall 2019 Issue. https://29322047-15fd-47c0-b488-998b70283ba9.filesusr.com/ugd/74dcc8_9d36d6126bc24468b5151b2912bf7990.pdf
- “Mange cases on the rise”. Interviewed and written by David Hart. Grand View Outdoors, Predator Xtreme. October 2019. https://www.grandviewoutdoors.com/predator-hunting/mange-cases-increasing-black-bears
- "Mangy madness: Sarcoptic mange in Pennsylvania". Student research spotlight for Penn State Entomology Department written by Makaylee Crone. April 2019. https://ento.psu.edu/news/2019/student-research-spotlight-hannah-greenberg
- “Study tracks the rise of mange in black bears”. On the Pulse. March 2019. https://onthepulsenews.com/study-tracks-the-rise-of-mange-in-black-bears/
- “Black bears are going bald. It might be even worse than it looks”. Interviewed and written by Jason Bittel. Washington Post. June 2018. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/animalia