Michigan Wildlife Experts Rescue Black Bear After Two Years
Michigan wildlife specialists recently succeeded in safely capturing a black bear that had been trapped with a large plastic lid stuck around its neck for nearly two years.
Remarkable Survival Despite Injury
State bear expert Cody Norton expressed amazement at the bear’s resilience. “It’s incredible that the bear managed to survive and find food,” Norton said. Although the bear’s neck showed scars and patches of missing fur, overall, its health was better than anticipated.
Tracking the Bear’s Journey
The bear was first spotted as a cub on a trail camera in early 2023 in Michigan’s northern Lower Peninsula. Wildlife officials kept a close watch on the bear, identified by the unusual lid encircling its neck. The animal was seen again in late May still wearing the plastic piece.
Safe Capture and Lid Removal
In response, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) set a cylindrical trap and successfully lured the bear inside. After anesthetizing the animal, the team carefully removed the lid on June 3. The bear soon regained consciousness and wandered off.
Unanswered Questions About the Lid
It remains unclear how the bear became trapped in the plastic lid. Although bear baiting is permitted in Michigan, regulations require barrel lids to have large enough openings to prevent incidents like this. Additionally, it’s unknown how the 110-pound bear managed to endure winters while wearing the restrictive lid. Norton concluded, “We were pleasantly surprised it could live much like a typical bear despite the hardship.”
