{"id":533442,"date":"2023-03-19T11:11:30","date_gmt":"2023-03-19T17:11:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cerebrodigital.net\/alaskan-bears-often-drag-worms-several-meters-in-length-from-their-hindquarters\/"},"modified":"2023-03-27T17:43:55","modified_gmt":"2023-03-27T23:43:55","slug":"alaskan-bears-often-drag-worms-several-meters-in-length-from-their-hindquarters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cerebrodigital.net\/en\/alaskan-bears-often-drag-worms-several-meters-in-length-from-their-hindquarters\/","title":{"rendered":"Frequently, Alaska&#8217;s bears drag worms several meters long from their rear ends"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Alaska, bears often fall victim to a tapeworm infection that can result in the appearance of<a href=\"https:\/\/blog.nature.org\/2021\/08\/17\/the-disturbingly-long-tapeworms-of-alaskan-bears\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> huge parasites several meters long<\/a> crawling from their rump.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The diet of Alaskan bears, which includes large quantities of salmon, is the determining factor in their being prone to tapeworms, as these fish feed on crustaceans that ingest the eggs of tapeworms found in Alaskan rivers. In this way, tapeworms are transferred from crustaceans to salmon and, finally, to bears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/cerebrodigital.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/No-querras--1024x576.png\" alt=\"-\" class=\"wp-image-525430\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cerebrodigital.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/No-querras--1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/cerebrodigital.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/No-querras--300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cerebrodigital.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/No-querras--768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/cerebrodigital.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/No-querras--150x84.png 150w, https:\/\/cerebrodigital.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/No-querras-.png 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The parasites, which can measure up to 9 meters in length, can cause discomfort to the bears, and in some cases, the animals try to free themselves from the parasites by practicing the famous tree dance.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Pole dancing bears - Planet Earth II: Mountains Preview - BBC\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/l6yuv_-I4Z0?start=42&#038;feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although it may be unpleasant, parasites are an important part of the ecosystem, and some of them may even play a positive role in <a href=\"https:\/\/elifesciences.org\/articles\/65180\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">slowing down aging,<\/a> which has led some scientists to conduct studies with parasites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The life cycle of tapeworms is fascinating. Tapeworm eggs are found in Alaskan rivers, where they are ingested by crustaceans, which in turn are eaten by salmon that are caught by bears. When the eggs hatch, the larvae lodge in the bears&#8217; intestines, where they grow and develop into huge tapeworms that, at the end of their life cycle, are released in the bears&#8217; feces, resulting in a new life cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although the presence of tapeworms in Alaskan bears may seem unpleasant, this phenomenon is common in the region. Cases have been reported in which bears have been found with parasites up to 6 feet in length. Despite the unpleasant nature of this phenomenon, the study of these parasites can help us better understand Alaska&#8217;s ecosystems and the wildlife that inhabit them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In short, the presence of tapeworms in Alaskan bears is yet another example of the complexity and diversity of the natural world. These parasites are an important part of the Alaskan ecosystem, and understanding their life cycle and their effects on bears can provide valuable information about the wildlife and ecosystems they inhabit.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In Alaska, bears often fall victim to a tapeworm infection that can result in the appearance of huge parasites several [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":533412,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"video","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"two_page_speed":[],"_wpcom_ai_launchpad_first_post":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[107085],"tags":[107094,107095,107088,107086,107090,107087,107093,107092,107091,107089],"class_list":["post-533442","post","type-post","status-publish","format-video","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-science","tag-alaska-bears","tag-biodiversity","tag-curiosities","tag-ecology","tag-food-chain","tag-nature","tag-parasitism","tag-tapeworms","tag-wild-animals","tag-wildlife","post_format-post-format-video"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pdR79Q-2eLU","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":596449,"url":"https:\/\/cerebrodigital.net\/en\/study-reveals-rare-polar-bear-grizzly-hybrids-exist\/","url_meta":{"origin":533442,"position":0},"title":"Study Reveals Rare Polar Bear-Grizzly Hybrids Exist","author":"Erick Sumoza","date":"April 29, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"An extensive genomic study led by Canadian and U.S. scientific institutions confirms\u00a0hybridization\u00a0between polar bears (Ursus maritimus) and grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis) is exceptionally rare in nature. 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Anjali Goswami, evolutionary biologist at London\u2019s Natural History Museum, highlights how these animals embody a unique specialization that makes them masters of survival. 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A Killer Animal, Invisible and Underestimated When we think of lethal\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/cerebrodigital.net\/en\/category\/news-en\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"El animal m\u00e1s letal del planeta provoca m\u00e1s de un mill\u00f3n de fallecimientos al a\u00f1o","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cerebrodigital.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/portada-1-33.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cerebrodigital.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/portada-1-33.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cerebrodigital.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/portada-1-33.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cerebrodigital.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/portada-1-33.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cerebrodigital.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/portada-1-33.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":584922,"url":"https:\/\/cerebrodigital.net\/en\/alaska-first%e2%80%91ever-heat-advisory-in-history\/","url_meta":{"origin":533442,"position":3},"title":"Alaska Issues Its First\u2011Ever Heat Advisory in History\u2014and Here\u2019s Why It Matters","author":"Erick Sumoza","date":"June 17, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"For the first time on record, Alaska is under an official heat advisory, an unprecedented event in one of the coldest states in the United States. This change reflects not only rising temperatures but also a transformation in how extreme climate risks are communicated. A Historic Shift in Weather Alert\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Ciencia&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Ciencia","link":"https:\/\/cerebrodigital.net\/en\/category\/news-en\/ciencia-noticias-en\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Alaska emite su primer aviso de calor en la historia: \u00bfpor qu\u00e9 es tan importante?","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cerebrodigital.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/portada-32.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cerebrodigital.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/portada-32.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cerebrodigital.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/portada-32.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cerebrodigital.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/portada-32.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cerebrodigital.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/portada-32.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":586472,"url":"https:\/\/cerebrodigital.net\/en\/discover-sharks-unknown-population\/","url_meta":{"origin":533442,"position":4},"title":"Scientists Discover Previously Unknown Shark Population in Asia in the Most Unexpected Way","author":"Erick Sumoza","date":"July 9, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Sharks never seen before? 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As practice shows, Europeans most often choose cars that are manufactured in their country. This is the case for most Germans, and the situation is the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Ciencia&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Ciencia","link":"https:\/\/cerebrodigital.net\/category\/ciencia\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cerebrodigital.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/2-69.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cerebrodigital.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/2-69.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cerebrodigital.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/2-69.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cerebrodigital.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/2-69.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cerebrodigital.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/2-69.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cerebrodigital.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/2-69.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"amp_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/cerebrodigital.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/No-querras-.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cerebrodigital.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/533442","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cerebrodigital.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cerebrodigital.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cerebrodigital.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cerebrodigital.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=533442"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/cerebrodigital.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/533442\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":534519,"href":"https:\/\/cerebrodigital.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/533442\/revisions\/534519"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cerebrodigital.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/533412"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cerebrodigital.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=533442"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cerebrodigital.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=533442"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cerebrodigital.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=533442"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}