Bear’s 2-Year Neck Struggle: Michigan Rescue
- A Michigan black bear is free after state wildlife experts successfully removed a plastic lid that had been stuck around its neck for two years.
- Cody Norton, a state bear specialist, expressed surprise at the bear's resilience.
- After reappearing on camera in late May, still sporting the troublesome barrel lid, the DNR set a cylindrical trap.
Michigan wildlife experts saved a black bear after a harrowing two-year ordeal, successfully removing a plastic lid lodged around its neck. The tenacious animal, first spotted as a cub in 2023, endured multiple winters with the obstruction, showcasing amazing resilience. State bear specialists expressed astonishment at the bear’s ability to survive and thrive despite the encumbrance. After being tracked, the DNR set a trap and humanely removed the lid. This incredible story,reported by News Directory 3,highlights the importance of wildlife conservation efforts. The exact circumstances of how the lid became trapped, and how the bear survived, remain a mystery. Discover what’s next.
Michigan wildlife Experts Free Black Bear After Two Years With Lid Stuck on Neck
A Michigan black bear is free after state wildlife experts successfully removed a plastic lid that had been stuck around its neck for two years. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) had been tracking the bear since it was first spotted on a trail camera in the northern Lower Peninsula in 2023.
Cody Norton, a state bear specialist, expressed surprise at the bear’s resilience. “It’s pretty amazing that the bear survived and was able to feed itself,” Norton said. Despite scarring and hair loss around its neck, the 110-pound animal was in better condition than expected.
After reappearing on camera in late May, still sporting the troublesome barrel lid, the DNR set a cylindrical trap. On June 3, they lured the bear inside, anesthetized it, and carefully cut off the lid. The bear woke up and wandered off, now unburdened.
The exact method by which the lid became stuck remains unknown. While bear baiting is legal in Michigan, regulations typically require barrel lid openings large enough to prevent such incidents. How the black bear managed to survive multiple winters with the encumbrance also remains a mystery.
“We were pleasantly surprised. It was still able to make a living like a pretty typical bear,” norton added, highlighting the animal’s adaptability.