{"id":2187487,"date":"2025-06-27T12:00:15","date_gmt":"2025-06-27T11:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/?p=2187487"},"modified":"2025-06-21T11:05:13","modified_gmt":"2025-06-21T10:05:13","slug":"bear-necessity-lid-stuck-around-us-animals-neck-removed-after-two-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/bear-necessity-lid-stuck-around-us-animals-neck-removed-after-two-years\/","title":{"rendered":"Bear necessity: lid stuck around US animal\u2019s neck removed after two years"},"content":{"rendered":"

Michigan wildlife experts finally were able to trap a black bear and remove a large lid that was stuck around his neck \u2013 after two years.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s pretty incredible that the bear survived and was able to feed itself,\u201d Cody Norton, a state bear specialist, said on Wednesday. \u201cThe neck was scarred and missing hair, but the bear was in much better condition than we expected it to be.\u201d<\/p>\n

The bear first turned up on a trail camera as a cub in 2023 in the northern Lower Peninsula. After that, the department of natural resources was on the lookout for the elusive animal with a hard plastic lid around the neck, Norton said.<\/p>\n

\"The
The bear first turned up on a trail camera as a cub in 2023. Photograph: AP<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The bear appeared again on a camera in late May, still wearing the barrel lid, and the DNR responded by setting a cylindrical trap and safely luring him inside. The bear was anesthetized, and the lid was cut off on 3 June. He eventually woke up and ambled away.<\/p>\n

Norton said it was not precisely known how the lid got stuck on the bear\u2019s neck. Bear baiting is legal in Michigan, but the hole on a barrel lid typically must be large enough to avoid what happened to this bear.<\/p>\n

It also is not known how the 110-lb (49.9-kg) bear slept through winters wearing the uncomfortable accessory.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were pleasantly surprised. It was still able to make a living like a pretty typical bear,\u201d Norton said.<\/p>\n

This article<\/a> by Associated Press was published by The Guardian on 19 June 2025. Lead Image: Department of natural resources\u2019 workers work to remove a lid from the neck of a bear. Photograph: AP.<\/i><\/p>\n

Wildlife in catastrophic decline<\/h2>\n

The 73% decline in vertebrate wildlife populations during the last 50 years (mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish), is primarily driven by human activities that threaten biodiversity.<\/p>\n

Habitat Loss and Degradation<\/em> – human activities like deforestation, urbanization, and agriculture have led to the destruction and fragmentation of natural habitats, reducing the space and resources available for wildlife.<\/p>\n

Pollution<\/em> – air, water, and soil pollution from industrial activities, agriculture, and other sources can harm wildlife directly or indirectly by affecting their habitats and food sources.<\/p>\n

Climate Change<\/em> – changing weather patterns, rising temperatures, and sea levels are disrupting ecosystems and impacting species’ ability to adapt and survive.<\/p>\n

Overexploitation of Resources<\/em> – unsustainable hunting, fishing, and logging practices can lead to the depletion of populations and the loss of biodiversity.<\/p>\n

Invasive Species<\/em> – the introduction of non-native species can disrupt ecosystems, compete with native species, and threaten their survival.<\/p>\n