Site Logo

Alaska wildlife officials remove container from bear’s head

Published 5:45 am Thursday, September 17, 2015

In this photo taken Sept. 15, 2015, a black bear wanders downtown with a plastic, opaque jug stuck on its head in Juneau, Alaska. The bear was freed from its faux helmet and relocated outside of Juneau. A biologist for Alaska Department of Fish and Game, confirmed she tranquilized the male bear before removing the jug. (Steve Bean/The Juneau Empire via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
In this photo taken Sept. 15, 2015, a black bear wanders downtown with a plastic, opaque jug stuck on its head in Juneau, Alaska. The bear was freed from its faux helmet and relocated outside of Juneau. A biologist for Alaska Department of Fish and Game, confirmed she tranquilized the male bear before removing the jug. (Steve Bean/The Juneau Empire via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Alaska wildlife officials stepped in Tuesday to remove a plastic container covering the head of a Juneau black bear.

Department of Fish and Game biologist Stephanie Sell says the agency took action after reports that good Samaritans tried to help the male bear in a downtown neighborhood.

People were trying to jar the container loose. Sell calls that a dangerous thing to do with a 3- to 5-year-old bear.

She says a cub had a similar container on its head last year and removing it “got a little sporty.”

Sell tranquilized the adult bear and moved it out of the downtown area.

Black bears are common in Juneau. Sell says she hopes the incident will make people aware of how damaging unsecured material that attracts bears can be.

You Might Like