Pa. Game Commission Determined to Trap Sick Bear

The Pennsylvania Game Commission is trying to trap a sickly bear spotted recently in western Pennsylvania.

Game commission officials believe the bear has the mange, a skin condition caused by parasites that cause the animal to lose its coat. The game commission made that determination based on pictures snapped by residents who have spotted the bear near Kittanning recently.

The game commission is concerned because the mange can spread to other animals and even humans.

That's why they're urging people to stay away from the bear and to report it if they see the animal.

Bears can recover from the mange with proper treatment. But the animal may have to be euthanized if it's lost too much hair.

About 5 to 10 percent of Pennsylvania bears have mange.