(WFRV) – A young black bear spotted across northern Wisconsin with a plastic jar stuck on its head was safely rescued over the weekend, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
The 2-year-old female bear had been seen over the past week in Sawyer, Bayfield, and Douglas counties, traveling nearly 50 miles since it was first reported on July 26. Multiple attempts to trap the bear were unsuccessful as it moved frequently across the region.
Images courtesy of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
But on Sunday, August 3, thanks to a timely report from a private residence near Cable, a trained wildlife professional with USDA Wildlife Services was able to safely sedate the bear and remove the jar.
The roughly 70-pound bear was a little underweight but had no visible injuries. It was released in a nearby wooded area rich with natural food sources, where it was seen quickly feeding on berries.
A bear of that age and sex normally averages between 100-150 pounds this time of year.
Randy Johnson, DNR large carnivore specialist
The bear was also tagged for future identification, in compliance with wildlife drug administration laws. Officials credit public sightings and reports for the successful rescue and remind residents to continue reporting unusual wildlife behavior.
