Why Is Eating Bear Meat Deadly? (9 photos)

It's a paradox: people who are afraid to eat store-bought chicken "because it contains antibiotics" will never turn down game because it's "natural and organic." Bear meat seems especially healthy—as if the entire power of the forest's master would be transferred to you along with the meat. But in reality, this delicacy could be the last meal of your life. Almost all bears are infected with dangerous parasites that don't die even after four years of freezing.





When you got a job as a hunter, but lied a little on your resume.

Trichinella is a genus of parasitic roundworms, comprising eight species. All are tiny and thin, only 1-4 millimeters long—almost invisible without a microscope. The parasite is not picky when it comes to hosts; absolutely any animal, including humans, can become infected.



The pain of studding your little finger on a corner is equally horrific, regardless of the species.

For example, in studies conducted between 1950 and 2014, parasites were found in 91% of wolves, 80% of foxes, 60% of bears, and 21% of wild boars in some regions. In a study of northern Canada and Alaska, parasites were found in 88% of grizzly bears, 66% of polar bears, and only 5% of hares. Other studies in Alaska found that 100% of polar bears were infected with Trichinella. Of all the forest game animals consumed by humans, bears are the most parasite-infested. But why is this? What is it about them that Trichinella like so much?





Want a secret on how to avoid getting parasites from bears? Don't eat us!

Peace infestations peak in the spring. The bears wake up from hibernation skinny, angry, and terribly hungry. There's no honey, no berries, and they don't have the strength to run through the forest in search of prey. What's left to make do with? That's right, carrion. A starving bear will shamelessly eat any meat it can get its hands on. It could be a wolf, a fox, a boar, or even another bear. And it will become a host for the infection.



Wow, the bear found a gusli.

As soon as the meat of an infected animal enters the stomach, the parasites "come to life"—they begin to actively grow and reproduce. One female produces up to 2,000 larvae! That's where the fun begins. With most other parasites, the larvae leave the host's body and wait for a new one somewhere in the environment. But not with Trichinella—and that's why they're so dangerous.



Dude!!! Take me to the hospital immediately, my tummy hurts!

The young parasites penetrate the blood and lymphatic vessels, and from there, into the muscles. That is, into the meat. Curling up like a snail, the larvae create a capsule around themselves. This way, the host's body will stop reacting to the presence of foreign invaders and turn off its immune response. But the Trichinella worms themselves continue to live, gradually drawing nutrients from neighboring cells. They exist in this form as long as the host is alive. And when the host "goes," someone will naturally eat it, and the parasites enter a vicious cycle of development.



These beautiful croissants are Trichinella worms embedded in the meat fibers.

These parasites easily survive freezing, salting, smoking, and drying. In such products, the Trichinella larvae remain dormant for years, but if you eat even a piece of infected meat, they will immediately awaken. The only safe option is to submit the game to a lab for testing, then boil or bake it in the oven—parasites are killed by temperatures above 75°C for two hours.



But a bear can eat a person without fear of contracting any nasty things!



Alexey Petrovich, your cologne is magnificent.

Symptoms of infection in humans depend on the stage of the disease. While the worms are confined to the intestines, you may experience discomfort and digestive upset. The real fun begins when the little ones begin to travel throughout the body. Muscle pain, inflammation, cramps, and nervous system damage can occur. They can even accidentally reach the brain, and then it's all over.



What are you looking at? The parasites and I are preparing for hibernation. We have several thousand mouths to feed!

The worst part is that the initial symptoms are identical to those of a severe acute respiratory viral infection. But the longer the infection persists, the higher the risk of death. Without treatment, the mortality rate for trichinosis is 30%. If you're lucky and the larvae successfully infest your body without killing you, congratulations—you'll remain a carrier forever! Is one delicacy worth your entire life?