The petting zoo brought to Washington University’s campus was supposed to act as a stress reliever for finals week: Students could pet some farm animals, have a little fun, and forget about their studies while they cuddled a baby pig, some goats — even a bear cub.

But now, some students who held the bear Sunday afternoon and were nipped by it have to worry about whether the bear had rabies. And in order to find out for sure, the bear, named Boo Boo, will have to be euthanized.

“This is an extremely unfortunate situation, for our students and the bear cub,” said a statement released by Washington University spokeswoman Susan Killenberg McGinn.

Results of the rabies test on the bear, which was born in the wild, should be known within 48 hours of euthanasia. McGinn did not know the date of euthanization.

The students nipped by the cub were advised that rabies vaccinations would be needed only if the cub tested positive.

So far, about 14 students have reported the bear nipped them and the bites broke through their skin, including on their arms and faces, the university said. The university did not know beforehand that the zoo was bringing the bear, the statement said.