Today’s heartwarming animal rescue story comes from The Good News Network.
Wisconsin Bear with Snack Jug Stuck on Head Freed, Relocated and Released
Wisconsin residents called in by the dozen: “There’s a bear in my yard,” they said.
However, wildlife authorities were taken aback by the next detail: “It has a jar on its head!”
The Winnie the Pooh wannabe was a 2-year-old female black bear who had obviously followed her nose about 18 inches too far. Feasting on cheese balls, pretzels, or something else that’s sold in those massive plastic snack jugs, the animal couldn’t extract its head after it had finished.
“My immediate neighbor was like, ‘hey, just heads up, here is what’s heading towards your house,’” said Jayme Morey, coordinator for the Chequamegon Humane Association in Ashland, Wisconsin.
Used to spreading the word about missing dogs and cats, this emergency was rather different. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources had been tracking the bear for a week, as Morey’s call wasn’t the only one they had received.
They were finally able to find it, tranquilize it, and remove the jug from its head. Clearly skinny, the bear had been trapped for at least 11 days based on the record of sightings by locals. It could still get water by dunking its head and slurping up what entered through the sides of the jug.
“We’ve seen this come up from time to time, often with a bear, occasionally a deer,” Randy Johnson, a large carnivore specialist with the Wisconsin DNR, told CBS News. “The good news is this is the time of year when food is the most abundant in the woods, and she’s got two months to kind of get back into healthy shape going into winter.”
Indeed, the bear was just 70 pounds when rescued—about the same as some of the largest dog breeds. A bear of that age at that time of year should weigh over 150, Johnson said.
He said she had a good shot of surviving, and after her release, she jogged to a berry patch and started chowing down.
The good news in this story is that concerned citizens spoke up about the bear’s plight. Today’s JohnKu talks about staying vigilant. I hope you have a super weekend.
Report It by John W. Howell © 2025
If something looks odd,
Don’t think it will go away . . .
Call an official.
Fiction Favorites 
Dear John
Poor bear. It shows how disastrous it is to litter. We have the same problem here with the seals.
Happy weekend
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
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I wish people would be more aware of the damage they can cause. Thanks, Klausbernd. Wishing the F4oC a happy weekend.
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It’s a shame that poor animal suffered for so long before the officials got to him. Thank you Wildlife Service!!
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I agree, GP. 😊
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I’m glad the bear was able to be helped before she starved to death.
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I am too, Liz. Happy endings are always great.
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Definitely call an official! Also throw your darn trash in the trash bins!! Crisis averted, but still…11 days.
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I’m with you, Lois. Hey human, see the bin over there. Use it!
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Oh my, what a story, John
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It is a good one, Robbie. Thanks.
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Why do I feel like there’s a ‘bear with something stuck on head’ story every year? Do bears make viral challenges to each other?
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I think it may be some kind of teenage dare thing. Of course, if there is a jug of cheese twists sitting around, how can they resist?
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Hello there. There’s so much bad news in the world, it’s great to learn about some good news.
Neil S.
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Thanks, Neil. Good news is always welcome. Thanks for the visit and comment.
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Aw, I love me some bears and how wonderful that people stepped up to help her. God Bless this world where a bear could turn to people for help and receive it!
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I agree, Annette. Made me feel good today. 😀
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Bless that bear. And how wonderful that there’s a happy ending. Thanks for bringing us this happy news story, John.
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We all like happy endings, and that is what these Friday posts are all about.
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11 days! I’m glad they found her and got that jug off her head. I hope she fattens up and survives.
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It sounds like she will be okay. Let’s hope for the best.
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Oh, that poor bear! What a good story, though. I’m happy she finally was released from the jar and has time to fatten up before winter sets in.
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Yes, a happy ending, which is always good.
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That sure is a very heartwarming story of animal rescue, great that nice people called the DNR. Thanks for sharing it with us, John.
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I like that people called and kept calling. Thanks, Tim
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Unless it’s the government official that is causing the alarm…
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yay! So happy the poor bear got help and is back eating again.
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Me too, Denise. It is a happy ending.
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Thank you, John, for showing us how a heartbreaking situation can be remedied by thoughtful folks. If only, if only people realized how their carelessness harms others. 💙
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Well, as you know, Gwen, some people feel privileged and give no thought to others humans or otherwise.
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Poor thing! 😥 Glad she was found. Damn plastic! Hope she has time to fatten up before winter. 🤞🏻
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They seem to think there is time. I know I would like the assignment of putting on 100 pounds.
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🤞🏻 Thank you for the share and a lovely weekend to you!
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Such a sad situation with a great resolution. Congratulations and thanks to the rescuers!
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I agree Noelle. A great outcome.
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Oh my goodness, the poor girl was exhausted. And if not for the great good work of these peeps, this story ain’t got a happy ending. You know, I see these stories on my YouTube feed all the time. It’s good to know people are looking out for all the beasts, large and small. Great stuff Sheriff
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It is a reminder to us all to not leave stuff around. That jar could have resulted in a very uncomfortable death for that bear. I am glad she was found and they were able to rescue her.
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So true, Thomas. I wish people were more careful.
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Wonderful news of it being rescued poor thing… I bet it was so relieved to have that jug removed. Lets hope it munches merrily and gains that weight again..
I am trying my best with Biscuit to help him put back his weight after all those teeth he had removed… He has certainly regained his appetite, but after two weeks of not eating hardly anything, he still has a way to go to get back his normal weight.
Its great that there are those out there who do these kind of rescues…
Many thanks for sharing John xx ❤
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All the best to biscuit. I hope she gains weight . Thanks for sharing, Sue.
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Thank you John xx 😘
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😊
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Wonderful that they were able to help her like that.
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I agree.
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That poor bear with the plastic jug on his head for eleven days. Cheers to the rescuers!
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Yes, Cheers to them.
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🙂
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Hi John, so glad this poor female black bear is safe.
Things like this happen in Romania too, in Transylvania, where the lush forests are still populated with brown bears. I read stories of bears hanging out on the side of the mountain roads, waiting for passing vehicles to throw them food. Evolution can be cruel.
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I feel sorry for animals that are forced to lose their independence. Thanks, Patricia. 😊
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That must have been torturous for the bear. So glad it turned into a happy ending because it could have been different.
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Yes, it could. Thanks, Pete.
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Awww, poor thing. I’ve seen reports of other critters who get trapped by plastic bottles/jugs. So heartbreaking. Glad this one lived another day. Thanks for sharing this sweet story, John.
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I feel the same, Monika. I was so glad this one turned out well. I hope you have a lovely weekend.
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Poor thing.
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I know, right?
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The JohnKu is to be heeded.
The rescue is wonderful.
But I am P/o’d that people leave things around that animals can get into trouble with. It may have been a jar on a picnic table _ So put it away when you leave the table, or put the pickles in a bowl!
Perhaps it’s careless trash? Or, something that should be recycled.. but you didn’t bother, and just chucked it.
Whatever, I blame humans. We are a bane on the animal world!
It is against the law to toss out a fridge with the door on, in case a child gets trapped inside. But it’s okay to toss things that can harm animals. It goes far beyond this one jar!
😡X
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I hope you feel better after expressing your frustration with humans. I have long had the belief that humans suck. There has been nothing of monumental import to sway my opinion. 😀X
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Yes, I am. Thank you, John!
I promise I won’t do that again. I was high on Pine-Sol. Darn that massive old stairway to the second floor apartment! I had to wash it.
Sometimes I love animals more than humans.
🙂X 🙂X
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I can understand being high on Lysol. Not a good height either. Most of the time I love animals more than humans ❤️X
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Me too! ❤️X
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😊X
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Wow, that bear has a lot to be grateful for. 🙂
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I would agree, Debby. Thanks
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🙂
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