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Officers shoot bear with jar over head
Published 12:00 p.m., July 30, 2008
A bear with a plastic jar over its head led police on a six-day chase through the forests of Hubbard and Becker counties before it was shot and killed, state wildlife officials said.
Officials had hoped to capture the wild black bear — whose head got stuck inside a 2 1/2-gallon plastic jar — but decided to shoot the animal after it wandered into the city of Frazee during the town’s busy Turkey Days celebration.
“When it got into town, our main concern was public safety,” said Rob Naplin, the Department of Natural Resources’ area wildlife supervisor in Park Rapids.
The bear was foraging for food, perhaps at a Dumpster, when its head got stuck in the clear, plastic container.
Naplin said he wasn’t sure of the container’s original contents but said it looked like a jar for bulk candy or popcorn.
While the bear could breathe, it couldn’t eat or drink and was likely suffering from dehydration and hunger.
“I’m sure there was high anxiety and frustration with its predicament,” Naplin said. “It is (a sad story).”
There was no evidence the bear was baited by hunters, Naplin said. The legal baiting season doesn’t open until Aug. 15. The bear season opens Sept. 1.
The bear, with the jar on its head, was first reported near the town of Lake George on July 21.
The next day it showed up at Itasca State Park near some dumpsters and DNR officials deployed a trap made of a steel barrel to try to catch it and remove the jar. The bear wouldn’t enter the trap, however, and was last seen Wednesday night on the park’s east side, the jar wedged on its head over one ear.
“We attempted to locate a dart gun to tranquilize it, but it left the park,” said Naplin, who estimated the bear was about 2-years-old. “It was on the move.”
The next day, the bear was spotted at a Boy Scout camp on Many Point Lake about 15 miles southwest of the park. By then, the DNR had two wildlife and four enforcement officers looking for the animal.
The bear showed up next in Frazee, where conservation officers decided it needed to be killed to avoid conflicts with humans.
By then, the jar had slipped down over both of the bear’s ears.
“You don’t want it knocking over a kid or getting hit by a car,” Naplin said. “Showing up in Frazee escalated the urgency of dispatching it.”
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The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post. To post a comment you will need to register. Or, if you're already registered but have not included your true, verifiable identity with your registration, you will need to update your account to include your identity. Effective Dec. 1, 2009, all posts appear with the commenter's true identity, which must be verified by site staff. Those who registered prior to Dec. 1, 2009, should be aware that once you update your information with your true identity, all prior posts under your user name will also indicate your true identity. If you do not wish to link yourself to prior comments, you should register again with a different user name.Posted by daidres (anonymous) on July 30, 2008 at 12:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Are they sure this wasn't the same bear they relocated after it was found roaming in Fargo? Poor bear looked as if it had it's head stuck longer than suspected. He looked thin, and his coat was dull. It was probably for the better to put him down, but yet sad to see such a beautiful creature in such a horrible state because of human error.
Posted by Brandon (anonymous) on July 30, 2008 at 12:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
How about shoot it with a tranquilizer and while its out, pull the freaking jar off it's head. Not everything has to DIE.
Posted by Brandon (anonymous) on July 30, 2008 at 12:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I know it says they did in the article, but use a stronger tranquilizer and try AGAIN.
Posted by bertajean (anonymous) on July 30, 2008 at 1:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What a shame. The bear should have been shot with a tranquillizer gun, remove the jar, returned to the forest and let it try to recoup on its own. If it was too sick, nature should have decided that fate...not the DNR.
Posted by bucksteel (anonymous) on July 30, 2008 at 1:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes, Nature would have decided the bear's fate - it would have been a slow, miserable, sickening death, maybe another week. That's why it was shot and put out of it's misery. But it's oh-so-easy to criticize those who had to deal with the situation, isn't it?
Posted by Blitzen (anonymous) on July 30, 2008 at 2:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The best case scenario would have been to tranquilize and remove the jar, I can agree on that. According to the article, the DNR did make a strong effort to avoid the bear's death.
Running loose in a town with a festival - you shoot the bear, no question. They made the right call. Animals can react unpredictably when tranquilzed, and even more so when one is under stress like this bear.
It is unfortunate that the bear was killed, but what if that animal had swatted a person or child after it was initially tranqulized? It could have killed someones dog as well. How about an injury accident if a vehicle hit this bear? Can you imagine the outrage then?
This bear was covering a LOT of ground in short time. It appears it was constantly moving. WHo knows where it would pop up next? The officials made a tough, but correct decision.
Posted by karebear (anonymous) on July 30, 2008 at 3:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I feel bad for the bear being shot. I do not think that this is more important then the sexual predator that moved to town. The informational meeting was last night and nothing was put into the paper today. I think that we would like to be more informed then one article last week.
Posted by silversaloon (anonymous) on July 30, 2008 at 3:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Seriously, doesn't the Dept of Natural resources have enough RESOURCES to help this Bear out? Protocol for carrying tranq guns? It's man's garbage that put him in this predicament initially, so now shoot him? I think they could have figured out a little more tactful way to deal with this guy. Death by bear-acracy...... what a waste.
Posted by AndyMosity (anonymous) on July 30, 2008 at 5:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Naplin said he wasn’t sure of the container’s original contents but said it looked like a jar for bulk candy or popcorn."
Sometimes I have to check and make sure I'm not reading The Onion.
Posted by klingetb (Tim Klinger) on July 30, 2008 at 7:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
How about we all pick up our stinking garbage and this would have never happened!!! Hmmmm something to think about huh!
Posted by TRH (tom hagen) on July 30, 2008 at 9:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah, a sad ending. I could never understand any one calling themselves a hunter,especially one who needs bait in the first place. To me hunting is all about one's own ability to hunt. Hey, if you weren't a good hunter, then guess what? Yep, you got it, you better learn to find food another way. My Dad, my Grandpa, and those before them, took pride in actually hunting, as a means of putting food on the table. Unlike today, I doubt if any one is actually starving in the area, with the resources of today; and if they were,they sure wouldn't have the money to run down to the local sporting goods store and buy a license, ammo, and perhaps bait, let alone the vehicle and gas,etc. to go to some place "real good". No I tend to think it has basically come down to wanting to kill something. perhaps a primitive drive as yet, in a modern society. Best stop here.
Posted by shunka (anonymous) on July 30, 2008 at 10:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
TRH
Your Dad and Grandpa "took pride in actually hunting" to put food on the table. Thats awesome, I think thats the goal for most of us. Unfortunatley we are now stuck in our time and place in history. More people less enviornment and still the basic drive or need to hunt to put food on the table.
If I (NEEDED) to "put food on the table" then baiting or regulations would not stop me from providing sustenance for my family.
The difference is I WANT to put food on my table by hunting.
I am sorry for your families history of poverty but dont confuse the "need to hunt" Vs, the "legal right to add sustenance"
I'm sure the cattle in the stockyards, full of antibiotics and hormones, stuck in small pens wallowing in their own feces is a much better meal.
After all who would want to eat a
creature raised naturally and in its intended environment.
I agree, the fate of the bear is sad.
Don't confuse hunting with emotion.
"actually hunting" is not a fair term.
The end result is the same, need or desire based. We are allowed by law to hunt and specifically bait bear.
If you have ever tried to hunt bear any other way you would not have much luck.
So if a family "needed meat" you would starve trying to actually hunt bear here in MN without bait.
Posted by Stonewall (anonymous) on July 31, 2008 at 3:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
All you had to do was shoot the jar with a pellet gun and the bear would have been free!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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