Dewormer for bears, ethical?

[dan]

In Wisconsin, and I would guess just about everywhere else, its illegal to give wild animals dewormer... The last bear I shot in Wisconsin was disgusting with worms when I field dressed it...
Several bear guides have told me that they slip dewormer into there bear baits. More healthy bears, and much heavier bears is the reason often cited. It certainly "seems" to be great for wildlife, and getting parasites out of the bear woods sounds like a great idea...
However, administering medicine to wildlife is illegal for bear guides to do, and they know it.
Guess if it really is a good thing to get rid of parasitic worms in bears why shouldn't we make it legal ?
I would think it could be made legal for registered guides if they go thru a training coarse put on by a licensed Veterinarian in cooperation withy the DNR...
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

[Schultzy]

The thought has never crossed my mind before. Wouldn't matter either way to me I guess.

[Zap]

It cannot hurt, I vote legal.

marty

[magicman54494]

My only concern would be how would you be able to know how much each bear gets. Maybe dewormer can't be overdosed?

[lungbuster]

My reason for the undecided vote also magic.......I can see the value in it,but could it be overdone and hurt the bear population???? I guess if it is basically fool proof then I don't see a problem with it.

[Liberty-Hunt]

My only concern would be how would you be able to know how much each bear gets. Maybe dewormer can't be overdosed?

I think it is the only problem on this!
But do not forget something, they are more then one kind of wormer so all dewormer do not work on all wormer as I know.
If the product is overdosed that can make some gastric disorder and you'll find some in the meat you heat!
One other point is, I think, if you give sub-dosed dewormer the wormers will (with time) resist to the product...

The best way is to not consume the infected animal and if you are not sure ask for an veterinarian test on the meat (for trichinoses keep the diaphragm mussels and the base of the thigh mussels and a part of the liver).
Anyway froze the meat and cook it at 60°C (in the center of the meat pieces) during minimum 20 minutes. That kill them all.

Just my opinion...

[AC Rider]

Yes, with proper training and regulation.

[dan]

Yes, with proper training and regulation.

My thougts exactly... If guides are trained properly there should be no problems with over doseing.

[Spysar]

I'm undecided. My first thought was don't mess with mother nature.

My question is why do you want the bear dewormed? Is it for eating puposes? If so, drugging an animal may leave the meat not edible.

If it's for overall health, maybe some research is in order.

In the real world, there is probably no money for research, and no way the DNR is going to let the public medicate bears for any reason.

[dan]

My question is why do you want the bear dewormed? Is it for eating puposes? If so, drugging an animal may leave the meat not edible.

I don't think the small amount you give the bears would hurt you in any way. Its more for the health of the population. A lot of the Wardens up North apparently know this is going on and just make believe they don't know because they somewhat agree with it... I just think that if its already going on with a lot of guides, why not regulate it to ensure that these people are giving proper amounts...

[dan]

I believe bears with worms are generally problem bears too, they have to eat a lot more food because the worms suck up all the nutrition. I can remember several articles about rare black bear attacks where the bear would actually try to consume the human and in most cases its usually described as a skinny bear that other than being under weight looks to be healthy... I would say they are probably starving cause of a worm infestation.

[Schultzy]

A few of the bear I've shot have had worms. They seemed to be healthy to me. It's kinda disgusting to see but other then that It don't bother me much.

[publiclandhunter]

I have heard that some of the folks use a small coffee can partially filled with apple-paste ivermectin. Evidently, they get it in the spring and once again in early fall and it does wonders for their growth. I actually like the idea if we are looking at improving overall health of the animals. You know the DNR would be 100% "all-in" if a drug was developed that you could administer to whitetails in the same fashion that could reliably treat CWD.

PLH

[dan]

bump

[john1984]

It's free health care for the bears, it should be ethical

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