This very large black bear was taken in Oregon this season, and was well over 450 lbs. When the hunter who killed it contacted me saying he wanted it cleaned up, he told me that both he and the Oregon State Fish and Game officer had noticed some bad tooth decay and odd growths in the left jawline. Well once it got to me and I got it cleaned up and was actually able to take a look at it, wow was he right!
I haven't bleached it since it has to be measured for a possible record position first, but I actually had a dentist take a look at this skull and he was able to tell me about all the odd deformities, though he spoke 'doctor-ese' and I'm afraid I can't relate much of it back. Basically what he said, though, was that it wasn't an injury and it wasn't a birth defect, although the bear probably developed it early in life. He is 99.99% sure that it was a tumor, and based on the bone destruction he says it was probably an aggresive benign lesion. Very, very unique skull.
You can really see the tooth problems and some of the upper jawline bone growth here.
Check out the massive decay of the jaw at left canine, as well as all the missing and decaying teeth.
The top view really shows the bone cavity that developed, probably from the tumor, at the upper jaw on the left, as well as the deformed jawline especially by the molars.
I'll be shipping this skull back to Oregon soon and I look forward to hearing the official score from the Fish and Game Department, as this bear may be a state record and/or a Boone & Crocket entry!
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