Bear freed after more than a week with head stuck in a jar

Bet she couldn’t bear it.

A young bear has been saved after having a plastic jar stuck over her head for more than a week.

The 2-year-old sow, or female bear, was first spotted with its ill-fitted headgear in Sawyer County on July 26 — and over the next week, traveled at least 50 miles, with sightings across Bayfield and Douglas counties, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

She would have been unable to eat — but likely survived on body fat reserves, which can be significant this time of the year as bears bulk up for winter, according to Randy Johnson, DNR large carnivore specialist.

On Sunday, it was finally tracked back at the house where it had first been spotted eight days earlier.

Wildlife experts were then able to sedate it with a dart long enough to cut off the jug, which showed signs of how the famished bear had tried to rip it off.

“We do not know how long the jug was on the bear’s head, but it was a little skinny when captured,” Johnson said, noting that the 70-pound bear would have been expected to weigh at least 100 pounds, if not 150.

“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.”

The bear showed no additional injuries and was quickly tagged and taken to recover in a wooded area with ample food and water. 

When it was released, it immediately began feeding on a patch of 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 Department of Natural Resources said.