Madison Reporter

A black bear that was seen with its head trapped in a plastic jar across several counties in northern Wisconsin has been freed, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The incident, which began on July 26 when the animal was first spotted in north central Sawyer County, drew attention as it moved through Bayfield, Douglas, and Sawyer counties over the course of more than a week.

The DNR worked alongside U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wildlife Services to address the situation. These agencies routinely partner to handle wildlife-related issues that affect agriculture and residential areas, including unique cases such as this one.

Efforts to capture the bear involved setting live traps at locations based on public sightings. However, these attempts were unsuccessful due to the animal’s extensive daily movements—covering nearly 50 miles during the period it was monitored.

After monitoring and trapping efforts throughout the week, officials received several new reports over the weekend of August 2-3 indicating that the bear had returned to its original location. On Sunday, August 3, a trained wildlife professional responded promptly to a sighting at a private residence near Cable, Wisconsin. The responder was able to safely immobilize the bear using a dart containing an approved drug.

Once sedated, USDA Wildlife Services staff removed the jar from the bear’s head and checked for injuries. No lacerations or additional harm were found. The female bear weighed approximately 70 pounds and was estimated to be two years old. It was relocated to a wooded area with access to food and water for recovery. Upon release, officials observed that it quickly began eating berries in its new environment.

Natural food sources are currently plentiful in northern Wisconsin, increasing chances for successful rehabilitation of wild animals released into their native habitat during this season.

Randy Johnson, large carnivore specialist for DNR, stated: "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. "The bear was likely surviving on body fat reserves (which can be significant on bears by midsummer). A bear of that age and sex normally averages between 100-150 pounds this time of year."

To comply with federal regulations concerning wildlife treated with immobilization drugs in open environments, two plastic ear tags were attached for identification purposes before release.

The agencies credited members of the public who reported sightings as essential contributors: timely information helped track and eventually rescue the animal.

Photographs documenting USDA Wildlife Services staff freeing the sow have been made available for download.