A 2-year-old female bear in northern Wisconsin, which had been wandering for over a week with a jar stuck on its head, has finally been freed.
In a press release issued Monday, Aug. 4, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said the 70-pound bear was first spotted on Saturday, July 26, in north-central Sawyer County.
The animal’s unusual journey began in the town of Cable, continued through Seely, and then north to Iron River, covering nearly 50 miles, according to KBJR.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wildlife Services tracked sightings across northern Sawyer County and southern Bayfield and Douglas counties, setting several live traps. However, the traps proved ineffective due to the bear’s daily travel distances, the DNR reported.
Over time, public reports suggested the bear was circling back toward its original location in Cable. That prediction came true on Sunday, Aug. 3, when Erik Donley and his nieces spotted it near their family cabin.
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“We heard about this bear being on our property about a week ago. I was talking to some friends, and lo and behold, she came out of the woods and started walking towards me,” Donley told KBJR.
His nieces immediately contacted Bayfield County and the USDA while Donley followed the bear at a safe distance, speaking to it and waving his arms. A trained wildlife professional soon arrived and darted the animal with an immobilization drug.
Once sedated, USDA Wildlife Services staff carefully cut the jar free.
“Twelve days for a bear to be without food and not much water — it’s impressive. To be part of its rescue was definitely something we’re glad we were here for,” said Harriet Hill, one of Donley’s nieces.
The bear, found with no injuries or lacerations, was relocated to a wooded area with plentiful food and water. Upon release, it quickly began feeding on nearby berries.
“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 its claws, and someone observed it drinking by dunking its head in water,” said Randy Johnson, DNR large carnivore specialist. “A bear of that age normally averages between 100 and 150 pounds this time of year, so it was probably surviving on body fat reserves.”
