Pickles is about nine months old!
It’s been a bumpy road for Pickles, the Florida black bear cub, but brighter days are hopefully ahead!
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) brought Pickles to us after finding him alone on a bustling highway in southwest Florida back in May. We’re still unsure of how he was separated from his family.
We transferred the then-healthy cub to Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park in July, but after some time, the park staff noticed Pickles was not acting like his usual lively self.
So, Pickles returned to our care in September to see how we could help. The cub struggled to use his back legs, refused to eat and ran a fever.
When we first examined the cub, it seemed like he was suffering from kidney and bone infections, which we treated with antibiotics and pain medications. While the cause of Pickles’ health decline remains uncertain, our animal care team is steadfast in providing him with the best possible treatment!
“Bears are real tough,” said Lauren Hinson, director of animal programs. “I have been in constant communication with FWC and Homosassa. Everyone is very worried about this little guy and thankful we can help.”
We performed a full medical exam on Pickles, which included blood draws, a CT scan, a urine sample and lymph node cell collection for more testing. We also tried out a new antibiotic!
Our veterinary staff performs a full CT scan.
Our vet team discovered a number of bony lesions, lymph node enlargement and impacted joints. His kidneys seem to be improving, but there are still changes in his bones that suggest an ongoing infection, said Dr. Rachel Turner, one of our staff veterinarians.
Pickles worked his way up from ice blocks to a normal baby bear diet.
Despite the challenges he’s faced, Pickles is truly a trooper!
Over the past week, he’s shown vast signs of improvement and seems to be back to his goofy, playful self. This little bear is full of spirit, entertaining himself for hours on end with enrichment items like toys and paper. And every once in a while, he gets hit with a serious case of the zoomies!
“Pickles is just a character,” said Lauren. “He has always been very brave and seemingly oblivious to the world around him!”
Plus, Pickles may have some company soon! Another bear cub patient named Millie will likely remain in our care until her release in December, and we are hoping she can be a friend to Pickles!
We are now awaiting additional testing to determine whether we will medically release the baby bear later this year. Stay tuned to our blog for updates on his journey ahead!
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Brevard Zoo is an independent, not-for-profit organization that receives no recurring government funding for our operating costs. Your generous support enables us to continue to serve our community and continue our vital animal wellness, education and conservation programs.