Wisconsin authorities successfully freed a bear’s head from a plastic jar last weekend.

CABLE, Wis — Authorities freed a bear from having its head stuck in a plastic jar last weekend in Wisconsin. 

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) partnered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help the unlucky bear that was observed moving across Bayfield, Douglas and Sawyer Counties. 

Authorities first learned of the animal on Saturday, July 26, when it was spotted in Sawyer County, according to the press release. 

Despite several trapping attempts by USDA Wildlife Services, the bear travelled nearly 50 miles away from the original spot, moving across northern parts of the county and then crossing into southern Bayfield and Douglas Counties. 

Authorities said several public reports over this past weekend, however, indicated that the bear might return to the initial area where it was spotted. On Sunday —  a week into the effort — the 70-pound, 20-year-old sow was found at a private residence near Cable, Wisconsin. 

USDA Wildlife Services staff sedated the bear and successfully removed the jar from the animal’s head. 

“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, in the release.

“The bear was likely surviving on body fat reserves (which can be significant in bears by midsummer). A bear of that age and sex normally averages between 100-150 pounds this time of year.”

Besides distress and loss of weight, the sow suffered no injuries and was relocated to a “safe, wooded area with ample food and water to allow the bear to recover,” the DNR wrote in the release. Staff also noted that the bear was quick to dig into a patch of berries nearby — no plastic jars disturbing its meal this time. 

Authorities thanked everyone who reported the bear as it travelled across the counties and acknowledged that timely information remains a significant resource to the rescue efforts.