Amazing Rescue Story Of Wisconsin Bear With A Jar On Its Head

At the end of July, people in northern Wisconsin began seeing a bear with a plastic jar stuck on its head. Not only did word spread quickly throughout the community, but the reported sightings were shared everywhere.

I had seen pictures on social media of the poor bear, and when I went out to dinner in Duluth, people were talking about the story and speculating on how it could have happened and how long it could survive in that situation.

The consensus among those I talked to was that the jar likely had some food left in it, and the bear likely got stuck when it tried to eat what was left. But, with restricted air and no way to eat or drink, everyone agreed it needed help or it wouldn't make it.

Thankfully, this story has an amazing ending thanks to the community and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wildlife Services staff. We also learned that while the bear couldn't eat, it did find a creative way to drink some water.

The Happy Ending To The Story Of The Bear With A Plastic Jar Stuck On Its Head

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently announced that the bear seen with its head stuck in a jar in Bayfield, Douglas, and Sawyer counties had been successfully freed by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wildlife Services staff near Cable, Wisconsin.

The DNR and USDA Wildlife Services staff say they first learned of a bear with a plastic jar stuck on its head in north central Sawyer County on Saturday, July 26. Since the bear was first observed, it moved nearly 50 miles and was reported multiple times across northern Sawyer County and southern Bayfield and Douglas counties.

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Staff from USDA Wildlife Services set several live traps for the bear based on reported sightings, but the efforts were ultimately unsuccessful because the bear was traveling a significant distance each day.

Officials Close In On The Bear With The Help Of The Community

After over a week of monitoring and trapping efforts, several public reports of the bear over the weekend of August 2 - August 3 indicated it was likely returning to the area where it was first witnessed.

Then, on Sunday, Aug. 3, a trained wildlife professional responded to a timely report of the bear at a private residence and was able to safely dart the bear with an immobilization drug.

Once the bear was sedated, USDA Wildlife Services staff were able to cut off the jug and examine the bear for injuries.

No lacerations or additional injuries were noted, and the approximately 70-pound, 2-year-old sow (female bear) was relocated to a safe, wooded area with ample food and water to allow the bear to recover.

Officials report the bear was alert when released, and they witnessed that it quickly began feeding on a patch of nearby berries. Natural food is abundant in northern Wisconsin at this time of year, and the bear's best chance of survival is in the wild, feeding on naturally occurring food sources.

The bear did receive two plastic ear tags for identification, which is consistent with federal law regarding the administration of immobilization drugs in free-ranging wildlife.

How Did The Bear Survive In That Situation?

"We do not know how long the jug was on the bear's head, but it was a little skinny when captured. There were punctures in the jug – likely from the bear's claws – and a public observation indicated that it was able to drink by dunking its head in water," said Randy Johnson, DNR large carnivore specialist.

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Johnson added that the bear was likely surviving on body fat reserves, which can be in abundance in bears by midsummer, with a bear of that age and sex normally averaging between 100-150 pounds this time of year.

Lastly, the DNR and USDA Wildlife Services wanted to thank the public for reporting the bear as it moved across the landscape, citing these timely reports as critical to the success of the effort to save the bear.