Wildlife experts view black bears through many different lenses – some see them as misunderstood creatures, others as culturally important animals, while still others consider them dangerous or problematic. Despite these varying perspectives, most agree that bears serve a crucial function in ecosystems throughout Virginia and worldwide. Virginia is home to just one bear species – the American black bear – which ranks among North America’s most widespread and extensively researched mammals.
While scientists have gathered extensive knowledge about black bear behavior and population dynamics, recent developments show there’s still much to discover about these animals. Historically, parasites and diseases haven’t significantly threatened black bear survival rates. Instead, human-related factors like hunting, car strikes, removal permits, and habitat loss remain the primary causes of adult bear deaths. However, a troubling parasitic condition has gained attention over the past ten years: sarcoptic mange.
This highly transmissible skin ailment, triggered by microscopic mites, impacts numerous wild and domesticated animal species. The specific parasite Sarcoptes scabiei is most commonly responsible for mange symptoms observed in Virginia’s bear population.
Between 2014 and 2018, isolated mange cases in Virginia bears were mainly concentrated in the northern Shenandoah Valley region. Starting in 2020, incidents have become more frequent and geographically widespread. By January 2026, wildlife officials have documented confirmed mange cases in 37 Virginia counties.
Many aspects of how mange develops and spreads among bears remain unclear to researchers. Affected animals may experience scratching, fur loss, rough and parched skin, behavioral changes, and in serious cases, deteriorating physical condition. Studies and field observations indicate that numerous bears with minor to moderate infections can survive and eventually overcome mange symptoms. Evidence from other states with longer exposure to sarcoptic mange shows no definitive proof that the disease causes lasting population damage. Nevertheless, recent localized population decreases have been noted in some Virginia areas affected by mange, especially in counties that previously allowed more liberal hunting seasons.
Many residents contact the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) asking about response efforts to this disease. In 2017, DWR partnered with The Wildlife Center of Virginia on an experimental treatment research project. Results showed that medical intervention could eliminate visible symptoms, but failed to prevent reinfection, which typically proved more severe in subsequent cases. A research paper detailing these findings is currently under review for publication.
Pennsylvania researchers compared survival rates between treated and untreated bears, finding no meaningful difference – 88 percent of treated bears survived compared to 74 percent of those receiving no treatment, according to a study titled “Resolution of Clinical Signs of Sarcoptic Mange in American Black Bears (Ursus americanus), in Ivermectin-Treated and Nontreated Individuals.”
The USDA-WS Conflict Helpline assists in monitoring disease occurrence and expansion through public reports. Citizens can contact the USDA-WS Wildlife Conflict Hotline at 855-571-9003 or email [email protected] to report suspected cases. These reports help officials track disease prevalence in established areas and monitor how quickly and in which directions it spreads. This data guides educational outreach efforts, shapes management decisions, and identifies locations for research studies.
Virginia organized the first mange-focused conference in 2022, welcoming representatives from 22 other states along with partners including the National Park Service, the Southeast Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study from the University of Georgia, and Penn State University. This gathering elevated mange as a priority discussion topic across multiple agencies, fostering multi-state research collaborations that continue today while helping states standardize data sharing among wildlife managers.
In 2025, Virginia created and implemented a Bear Mange Management Plan. This document standardizes the state’s approach to studying and managing bears affected by mange in their natural habitat. The plan serves as a strategic guide for management approaches while maintaining flexibility for specific actions.
Throughout 2024 and 2025, DWR established additional methods for public involvement in learning about this disease to improve bear population management. In 2024, DWR personnel operated voluntary sample collection sites throughout the mange-affected region, allowing hunters to bring harvested bears for sampling. This provided opportunities to collect samples from healthy bears in mange areas for comparison with infected samples, potentially revealing why some bears develop mange while others remain unaffected.
In 2025, hunters received logging materials to record bear sightings and condition assessments, plus sample collection kits for use during hunting season. The hunter logs will enhance population data collection in these regions, while sample kits provide researchers with larger sample sizes to strengthen results and conclusions.
From 2022 through 2026, DWR has participated in multiple mange research initiatives with both Virginia and external partners. These studies include Bear Mite Burden (multi-state), Mange Toxicology (multi-state), Bear Mange Microbiome Study (multi-state), Genetic Health Marker Testing in Mange Bears (multi-state), Human Dimensions of Mange Management (multi-state), and Population and Demographic Impacts of Sarcoptic Mange on Virginia Black Bears and Implications on Harvest Season Structure based on Predictive Densities in Mange and Non-Mange Affected Areas (Virginia Tech).
Numerous questions about this disease remain unanswered, but through collaboration, partnerships, and research, scientists have begun developing better understanding of mange’s impact on American black bears. Officials pledge to continue using all available resources to ensure management strategies effectively maintain this important species at sustainable population levels and optimal health despite the presence of this disease.
Additional information about Virginia bears and bear mange is available on the black bear section of the DWR website. To report suspected mange cases in bears, contact the toll-free USDA-WS Conflict Helpline at 855-571-9003 or email [email protected].
Carl Tugend serves as DWR Black Bear Project Leader and Katie Martin works as DWR Deer/Bear/Turkey Biologist.
