Bear's head stuck in jar for two weeks: tale of a rescue effort



A bear in northern Ontario has lodged its head inside a jar, threatening its survival because it cannot eat or drink.

Area resident Rob Paterson says a young black bear with a large plastic jar stuck on its head was wandering around before noon Tuesday in Amethyst Harbour, east of Thunder Bay. The animal wandered onto his porch, where he snapped a picture.

Paterson’s first reaction was to try and help the animal, but he can tell the jar is “jammed right on.”

“There’s no way to get that off without anesthetizing the animal, and cutting it off,” Paterson says.

“That’s the frustration, because when you first see it you want to go and rip it off his head but you can’t do that.”

He says the animal appears to be foraging for food, and he believes it can still walk and see normally.

Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources and the OPP have been trying to subdue the bear for the last two days, said Jolanta Kowalski, media spokesperson with the ministry.

They are attempting to hit the bear with a dart containing tranquilizer.

A radio transmitter is attached to the dart so officials can track the animal after it is hit. It can take up to eight minutes for the tranquilizer to take effect — plenty of time for the bear to run away, Kowalski said.

A bear trap has also been set up on nearby Lambert Island.

Ministry workers estimate the jar could have been on the bear’s head for as long as two weeks.

In July 2008, officials in Minnesota were forced to shoot and kill a bear with a jar stuck on its head for six days.

Kowalski said the ministry is hoping this bear avoids the same fate.

“We’ll do what we can to get this thing off of its head and hopefully it will end well,” Kowalski said.

While residents are aware of the potential danger to people in the area, their true concern is for the bear.

Paterson said the animal’s plight is a lesson for people visiting and living in the area.

“It’s a sad example of what happens when we don’t discard our recyclables. These animals don’t have to be in this distress,” Paterson said.

wow

"In case of emergency, break glass"

Awww he looks thin too. I'm sure they will get him eventually.

I've always been a big proponent of going back to glass containers, I say this is one more reason.

awww Chris that so sad.

maybe they should make smarter bears...darwins law wins again...fate can be a bit@# sometimes.

UPDATE - UPDATE - UPDATE - UPDATE - UPDATE

Bear with jar on head now bareheaded

A bear in northwestern Ontario whose head had been stuck in a jar for at least two weeks appears to have freed himself, relieved wildlife officials said Thursday.

Officials with Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources said a canoeist reported finding an empty plastic jar with fur in it on the shores of Lake Superior.

They suspect the bear had somehow broken free and they hope to retrieve the jar and analyze it.

The jar would have made it impossible for the bear to eat and drink. The bear had lost a significant amount of weight and officials worried it could die of thirst.

Rescuers had been searching for the bear since Tuesday, after it was spotted and photographed on Lambert Island near Thunder Bay.