Aspiration pneumonia in an American black bear Nathan J. Svoboda 1,5 , Jerrold L. Belant 1 , Scott D. Fitzgerald 2 , Dean E. Beyer 3 , Jared F. Duquette 1 , and Thomas M. Cooley 4 1 Carnivore Ecology Laboratory, Forest and Wildlife Research Center, Mississippi State University, Box 9690, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA 2 Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health, Michigan State University, 4125 Beaumont Road, Lansing, MI 48910, USA 3 Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Division, 1990 US Highway 41 S, Marquette, MI 49855, USA 4 Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Disease Laboratory, 4125 Beaumont Road, Lansing, MI, 48910, USA Abstract: Information regarding American black bear (Ursus americanus) mortality caused by disease is limited. Pneumonia is a common respiratory disease that affects many species of wildlife and can result in death. In February 2011, we investigated the death of a yearling male black bear and determined cause of death to be aspiration pneumonia. We found sections of lung were diffusely congested and edematous. A bacterial culture of lung tissue revealed numerous colonies of Klebsiella spp., Alcaligenes faecalis, Aeromonas spp., Corynebacterium spp., and Strepto- coccus spp. The mixed bacterial colonization of the lungs associated with minimal inflammation is consistent with terminal aspiration of gastrointestinal contents resulting in aspiration pneumonia. Docu- mentation of aspiration pneumonia in black bears can be useful for future researchers interested in the effects of disease on bears. Key words: American black bear, aspiration, dis- ease, Michigan, pneumonia, Ursus americanus Ursus 23(1):1–5 (2012) Wildlife diseases are part of a broad range of issues facing wildlife managers and are increasingly important in wildlife conservation (Roffe and Work 2005). Wildlife disease can result in mortality in populations (Young 1994); yet disease-induced mortality is often ignored or dismissed by wildlife biologists (Bolen and Robinson 2003). American black bear (Ursus americanus) mortality caused by disease is not well documented (LeCount 1987). Black bears have tested positive for many diseases including brucellosis, toxoplasmosis, tularemia, leptospirosis, trichinosis, encephalitis, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever (Binninger et al. 1980, Dunbar et al. 1998). Although many diseases have been reported that can lead to death, none have appeared to contribute greatly to regulation of black bear populations (Pelton 2003). Pneumonia is a well documented respiratory disease occurring in numerous wildlife species including big- horn sheep (Ovis canadensis; Wehausen et al. 2011), mountain gazelle (Gazella gazella; Berkowitz et al. 2010), short-tailed weasel (Mustela erminea; McDon- ald et al. 2008), and African lion (Panthera leo; Tefera 2003) that can lead to death. In some species, pneumonia has resulted in high mortality (Kreeger 2000) and occasionally complete loss of herds (e.g., bighorn sheep; Foreyt and Jessup 1982). Researchers have also documented pneumonia in grizzly bear (Ursus arctos; Cluff 2005), spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus; van der Hage and Dorrestein 1994), and sun bear (Helarctos malayanus; van der Hage and Dorres- tein 1994); however, published reports of pneumonia in black bears appear to be lacking. We describe a case of aspiration pneumonia in a yearling male black bear in Menominee County, Upper Peninsula of Michigan, USA (45u349140N, 87u209470W). This observation was part of a larger study examining multi-scale resource selection by carnivores and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus vir- ginianus). Major land-cover types within the study area include upland hardwoods, lowland hard- woods, lowland conifer swamps, upland conifers, aspen (Populus spp.) stands, agriculture, wetlands, and occasional patches of berry-producing shrubs (e.g., raspberries [Rubus spp.], and blueberries [Vaccinium spp.]). Black bears were captured using barrel traps (Kohn 1982) or foot snares (Johnson and Pelton 1980) during May–July 2009–11 and also restrained in dens the following winter. On 9 August 2009, we captured, immobilized with Telazol (7.0 mg/kg; Fort Dodge Animal Health, Fort Dodge, Iowa, USA), and radiocollared an adult female black bear. Following immobilization, we located the bear weekly until she entered her den. On 24 February 2010, we immobilized this bear in the den and 5 nsvoboda@cfr.msstate.edu SHORT COMMUNICATION N Svoboda et al. 1