Black Bear Freed After 8 Days with Jar Stuck on Her Head in Wisconsin

For more than a week, residents of northern Wisconsin kept their eyes on an unusual sight: a young black bear wandering the countryside with a large plastic jar stuck firmly on her head.

The two-year-old female, spotted in and around Ashland, had been struggling like this for eight long days. Despite the obstruction, she managed to travel nearly 50 miles, drawing concern from locals and attention on social media. Many feared the worst—that she wouldn’t survive without help.

Jamie Morey of the Chequamegon Humane Association was one of the people who stepped up. After neighbors told her about a sighting near her home in Cable, she began tracking the bear’s movements.

At the same time, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) had also been monitoring her. Eventually, the bear wandered into Morey’s neighbor’s yard, giving officials the chance they had been waiting for.

They tranquilized her, carefully removed the jar, and freed her from the strange prison that had trapped her. Moments later, she was released back into the wild.

“I honestly thought it wouldn’t end well,” Morey admitted. “But lo and behold, the bear is alive, and it does not have a bucket on its head.”

When weighed, the bear came in at just 70 pounds—well below the healthy 100 to 150 pounds expected for her age. Thankfully, experts noted she had a good chance of recovery. “The good news is that food is plentiful this time of year,” said Randy Johnson, a large carnivore specialist with the DNR. “She’s got two months to get back into healthy shape before winter.”

Officials tagged the bear with two plastic ear markers so she can be identified in the future. They also thanked the public for reporting sightings, which played a vital role in tracking her journey.

The incident serves as a reminder of the dangers wildlife face when human trash is left unsecured. “Animals often get into garbage and can get objects stuck on their heads,” Johnson explained. “Residents living near bear habitats should always secure their trash.”

For this young bear, the story ended with freedom—and a fighting chance at survival.

Lost for Years, A Beloved Dog Finally Finds His Way Back Home

A dog once thought gone forever has returned home after years of uncertainty, heartbreak, and hope.

His name is Buddy, a loyal companion who spent his days following his family everywhere, filling their lives with joy. But one morning, without warning, he disappeared. No sounds, no tracks—just silence.

For Emily Harper, Buddy’s disappearance left a hole in her heart that time could not heal. In the first few months, she searched tirelessly—posting flyers, calling shelters, walking miles in hopes of catching a glimpse of him. Every corner of her home still carried his scent, every quiet evening reminded her of the warmth that was missing.

As months turned into years, the hope of Buddy’s return grew faint. Emily tried to carry on, but deep down she never completely let go of the thought that one day, somehow, he might come back.

Then, everything changed. While volunteering at a local shelter, Emily overheard a story about a stray dog found in a remote area. Weak, malnourished, his coat ragged and body frail—there was something about the description that stirred something deep inside her. She couldn’t explain it, but she knew.

When she arrived at the shelter and saw the dog, her heart nearly stopped. He was thin, scarred by years of hardship, his eyes weary from struggle—but when their eyes met, time stood still. In that instant, she recognized him. It was Buddy.

Despite everything, he remembered her too. His tail wagged faintly, his tired body found the strength to move toward her, and as Emily knelt down, the reunion became a moment of pure magic. Tears ran down her cheeks as she wrapped her arms around him, whispering the words she had wanted to say for so long: “You’re home.”

Buddy had survived against the odds. He had been abandoned, left to fend for himself, but he had never given up. Now, with Emily by his side again, his days of hunger and fear are behind him.

Today, Buddy is once more surrounded by warmth, affection, and love. Their story is a reminder that no amount of time can erase the bond between a dog and their human—and that sometimes, miracles do happen.