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Bear Cub Meant to Relax Students Before Finals Ends Up Biting Them and Sparking a Rabies Scare

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Handout picture of a two-month-old bear cub named Boo Boo held by a student at Washington University in St. Louis
A two-month-old bear cub named Boo Boo is held by a student at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri in this handout picture taken April 26, 2014.Mary Gail Richardson—Reuters
By Samantha Grossman

A Missouri petting zoo brought a group of animals to Washington University in St. Louis to help students de-stress and relax before their final exams. But one of those animals — an adorable two-month-old bear cub named Boo Boo — kind of defeated the purpose of the whole thing by biting and scratching several students. Because nothing facilitates relaxation like a good old-fashioned rabies scare!

The university had previously said that the cub would have to be euthanized in order to test him for rabies, but school officials now say that won’t be necessary, Reuters reports. Local, state and federal health officials determined that Boo Boo posed no rabies threat, and the students will not need treatments, according to a statement that the university released Friday.

Boo Boo either bit or scratched at least 18 students, university spokeswoman Susan Killenberg McGinn confirmed Monday.

But really, it’s no wonder so many students wanted to hold and cuddle Boo Boo in order to relax in time for their exams. Look at the cub:

Handout picture of a two-month-old bear cub named Boo Boo led on a leash by a student at Washington University in St. Louis
A two-month-old bear cub named Boo Boo is led on a leash by a student at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri in this handout picture taken April 26, 2014. The cub was brought to the campus from a petting zoo to help students relax before final exams and ending up biting and scratching at least 18 students. Late on the afternoon of May 2, the university issued a news release stating that health officials determined that Boo Boo posed no rabies threat and that students will need no treatments. Picture taken April 26, 2014. REUTERS/Mary Gail Richardson/Handout via Reuters (UNITED STATES - Tags: ANIMALS SOCIETY EDUCATION) ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. REUTERS IS UNABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, CONTENT, LOCATION OR DATE OF THIS IMAGE. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. NO SALES. NO ARCHIVES. THIS PICTURE IS DISTRIBUTED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTSMary Gail Richardson / Reuters

 

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