Most wildlife stories don’t get happy endings — but sometimes, the wild fights for its own.
In Ashland, Wisconsin, a young black bear spent eight days wandering with a plastic jar stuck on her head. She was just two years old, lost and underweight, managing to survive only by dunking her head in streams to drink. Her nearly 50-mile trek caught the attention of worried locals, animal lovers, and social media across the region.
A Community on the Hunt
The rescue began when Jamie Morey from the Chequamegon Humane Association heard about the bear through her neighbors. For a week, Jamie and Wisconsin wildlife officials tracked the bear’s desperate trail through yards and woods, hoping for a chance to help.
Finally, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources located her in a yard near Cable. They tranquilized the exhausted bear, gently removed the jar, and — for the first time in days — she could breathe and eat freely.
Not Out of the Woods Yet
At rescue, the bear weighed just 70 pounds — far below the healthy range for her age. But there was hope: “This is the best time of year for a bear to recover,” said Randy Johnson, large carnivore specialist for the Wisconsin DNR. “She’s got two months to build her strength for winter. She’s got a real shot.”
After tagging her for identification, officials released her back into the wild — free at last.
The Real Lesson
Most animals get stuck like this after digging through human trash. Officials urge everyone living near bear country to lock up garbage and keep food out of reach. It’s a simple move that saves wild lives.
The young bear’s survival is more than just luck — it’s a testament to community action and a reminder that our choices impact wildlife in ways we don’t always see.
