Bald Bear
 

http://msdelta.net/~dave/images/story.bald.bear.ap.jpg

The story is available here.

Basically, the bears have a condition where they have far too many mites. And this causes their hair to fall out. They're described in the story as looking like a "large, bald rat" - and I'd say that's pretty accurate. :) Anyway, it made me smile, so...

Aw, man. I heard about this through fark, and I was disappointed that they didn't have a picture. But jeez... it's actually a little spooky.

http://cellar.org/2002/baldbear.jpg

It only gets spookier in larger format.

Jeez, thought I was lookin' in a mirror there.

Awww...
 

It almost looks like a herbivore like that... Funny what a huge shaggy coat of fur can do for you...

I always think of bears as herbivores actually. If it wasn't for their teeth I would forget they are omnivores, well that and seeing them fish. You very rarely see a bear eating anything but berries.


Don't they think it will spread. I was thinking this must be life threatening but then I read the article and saw it was in Florida, but what if it moves north. Any bear living in a cooler climate is going to have a hard time making it through the winter without fur.

He must be sooooo ichy. Is there a hair covered tree in the background?

Looks like they need an arial dusting with a mitacide! Poor itchy bear. Although going furless in FL must be a relief at times.

I can't believe no one has said this:

"Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear. Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair. Fuzzy Wuzzy wasn't fuzzy, was he?"

Quzah.