After pneumonia outbreak at East Tennessee rescue killed 2 bears, other cubs are out of the woods

It’s been a rollercoaster of a month for the Appalachian Bear Rescue in Townsend. The animal rescue made national news on Oct. 3 for its rescue of Juggles, a cub that had a jar stuck on its head for nearly two months. Then, just days later, the first of several cubs died after a pneumonia outbreak that was eventually linked to a streptococcus bacteria.

Now, it looks like the ailing bear cubs are out of the woods and improving after treatment at the University of Tennessee Clinic of Veterinary Medicine.

“That’s bear rescue in a nutshell: joy followed by grief, often on the same day,” the bear rescue posted on its Facebook page.

Why did the bear cubs get sick?

On Oct. 6, a bear cub named Flapjack died from what appeared to be a severe case of pneumonia in both lungs, the animal rescue in Townsend posted on its website.

Flapjack had been living with five other bear cubs in a pen, and those bears were taken to the University of Tennessee Clinic of Veterinary Medicine for evaluation and treatment because the vets suspected the pneumonia was contagious, the bear rescue said. All of the tested cubs had severe pneumonia and most had lesions in their throats that resembled strep throat.

On Oct. 9, a second bear cub, Burrito, died sometime in the night, the bear rescue said.

Staff from UT found a specific strain of streptococcus bacteria in all but one sick bear, the rescue said. It was also found in abundance in both of the bears that died. This isn’t the same strep bacteria that affects humans, the vets said, noting this bacteria seems specific to domestic birds, like chickens and turkeys.

It is not clear how the bears came into contact with the bacteria, as they are not fed chicken or turkey. One possible scenario being investigated, the bear rescue said, is that two of the sick cubs, Martha Washington and Betsy Ross, were rescued after their mother was shot in the process of raiding a chicken coop that might have contained infected birds.

What steps did the bear rescue take to contain the outbreak?

After the first bear cub, Flapjack, died, the bear rescue took the five cubs who shared his enclosure to the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine for examination and treatment. All the cubs were intubated and received oxygen, samples were taken, and antibiotics and fluids were administered.

“It took all day to take one bear at a time, using every carrier we own,” the rescue posted.

The cubs were all returned to the bear rescue and were isolated. The staff purchased humidifiers for each of the buildings sheltering cubs to help them breathe. Then, when Burrito died, the vet team volunteered to come to the rescue to assess the condition of the four surviving sick cubs and prescribed additional medications.

The bear rescue has increased its safety protocols, restricting access to the facility to bear care and vet personnel only. Masks, gloves and boots are mandated for staff anywhere near a bear, and everything a cub touches is either sanitized or burned.

How are the cubs doing now?

By Oct. 11, the sick cubs were holding their own and then began to improve, the bear rescue said.

One of the cubs, Thumper, was refusing to eat and therefore was not getting his prescribed antibiotics. Thumper now has been reunited with Tamale and is doing better, regaining his appetite.

“The other cubs in residence are doing well,” the rescue said. “None of them are exhibiting any symptoms of whatever ‘it’ is that’s made our other cubs so sick.”

How can you help Appalachian Bear Rescue continue its work?

To donate to the bear rescue, go to https://appalachianbearrescue.org/make-a-donation/. You can also go to the website and purchase items on their wish lists from Amazon, Walmart or other retail sites.

Liz Kellar is a Tennessee Connect reporter. Email liz.kellar@knoxnews.com.

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