What kinds of parasites affect the black bear?
Black bears have been reported to host more than 30 external and internal parasites, including coccidian protozoans, flukes, tapeworms, intestinal roundworms, lungworms, filarial worms, lice, fleas, ticks, and mites. Roundworms (Toxascaris sp.) were the most common endoparasite in New York, occurring in 31% of bears sampled. In the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 90% of bears were infected with the larval form of Dirofilaria ursi, a roundworm related to the dog heartworm. In New York, 46% of bears harbored this parasite. Trichinellosis, or muscleworm infection, is a parasitic infection of humans (and domestic animals) resulting from the invasion of muscle tissue by the larval stage of the roundworm Trichinella spiralis. Severe muscle pain, fever, edema, localized hemorrhaging, and neurologic problems may result from this disease. Infection results from the consumption of undercooked meat-such as pork-containing encysted larvae. Trichinellosis has also occurred from eating undercoo
