Overview

• Officials tracked the 2-year-old sow across Sawyer, Bayfield and Douglas counties for more than a week before choosing to dart her when live traps failed
• A trained wildlife professional safely sedated the bear near a private residence on August 3 and removed the discarded plastic jar from its head
• Examination found no lacerations beyond puncture marks on the jar and revealed the bear was underweight at about 70 pounds for its age
• A private resident’s report led authorities to the bear after it returned to the area where it was first spotted on July 26
• The bear was released into a wooded habitat with abundant food and water and immediately began feeding on berries to rebuild its fat reserves