With rubbed-off hair and scabs and scars on their enormous bodies
Virginia's black bears have a very infectious and itchy skin illness that's spreading.
Mange, caused by mites, is more common this year in black bears, wildlife experts say.
It's been discovered in the state before, but just lately begun spreading. Experts don't know what's driving the increase.
Wildlife authorities in Frederick and Shenandoah counties reported intermittent mange instances for years.
Since 2018, the disease's "frequency and geographic spread" among the state's 18,000 black bears has increased.