After nearly two years of rehabilitation recovering from mange and other severe medical issues at the Fund for Animals Wildlife Center in Ramona, California, Eve the hairless bear is now settling into her spacious new home at the Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch in Murchison, Texas, an affiliate of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).
Photo By: Humane Society of the United States
The 30-pound bear arrived at the wildlife center in Ramona on Christmas Eve 2017 after being rescued while dumpster diving in Northern California. She had no fur and suffered from health conditions including one of the worst cases of mange medical experts had ever seen.
Eve the bare bear is transferred from Fund for Animals Care Center in Ramona, CA to the Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch in Murchison, TX.
Her recovery (including gaining over 130 pounds) did not result in the full growth of her coat and it was determined that she could not survive in the wild as hibernating and interactions with other bears would be problematic. She remained in Ramona until her new home at Black Beauty was ready and she was able to travel to Texas last week.
Black Bear Patient #4319 May 31, 2018: Dr. Jane Meier and Volunteer, Dr. Petra Pierce along with FFAWC staff including RVT Gina Taylor attending. In addition to her overall physical check-up, we took more skin scrapings, biopsies from about ten different sites, along with hair follicle samples and of course more blood-work. Also true to form, she gained an additional 25 lbs and is now a whopping 105 lbs! Results were good and bad. Good news – Her blood lab work was great and there wasn’t any evidence of any mange mites! Bad news…even after months of medication, she still has a lingering inflammatory dermatological skin infection and secondary dermatological fungal skin infection. She has been put back on antibiotics and anti-fungal medication. She has more hair grown in than last time – but obviously still very patchy. Her releasability outcome is still being monitored.
Kitty Block, President and CEO of the HSUS said in a statement, “This incredibly strong and resilient bear will require life-long care and a special environment to help protect her. There is no doubt that without the intervention of the dedicated wildlife center staff, Eve would not have survived. We know her future now at our Black Beauty Ranch is a bright one and that all of her needs will be met for the rest of her life.”
Black Bear Pat #4319 referred to as “Eve” came in on 12/24/2017 with a severe case of mange. These photos were taken of her playing in one of her small water tubs – trying to grab a trout she had been playing with in the water. This is in her outdoor enclosure on 5/5/2018 to document her progress (or lack there of). Additional vet visit scheduled for reevaluation and additional treatment.
“Eve is an extraordinary bear and is already busy exploring her new home here. While her hair will never fully come back, she is otherwise healthy, feisty and showing typical wild bear behavior. We are grateful to be able to provide a permanent home for her,” said Noelle Almrud, Director of Black Beauty.
Eve, the bear exploring her new quarantine yard at Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch.
Caring for one bear costs approximately $15,000 per year. Eve is the third bear currently living at the sanctuary. The others, who live in a separate area on the 1,400 acre property, are a pair of elderly retired traveling circus bears named Tibor and Sammi. The sanctuary is home to more than 800 animals.