Wildlife biologists in Montmorency County, Michigan, recently freed a 2-year-old black bear from a plastic lid that had been stuck around its neck for nearly two years. The bear, which weighed 110 pounds and was otherwise healthy, had significant scarring and an abscess due to the lid. The plastic lid, with a 5-inch hole, resembled those used on 55-gallon drums by hunters to bait bears or by landowners to store materials like chicken feed.
In Michigan, baiting bears is legal on private land, but containers must have specific hole sizes to prevent wildlife entrapment. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) had been aware of the bear since 2023 through trail camera photos but struggled to capture it until a Hillman resident reported seeing the bear on their property in late May. With the landowner’s permission, biologists set a baited trap, captured the bear on June 2, and safely removed the lid.
The DNR advises landowners to be “BearWise” by recycling or crushing containers and being cautious with garbage to prevent similar incidents. They stress that the size of container openings is crucial to avoid wildlife entrapment. Michigan is home to around 13,000 black bears, with 1,700 residing in the northern Lower Peninsula. To minimize bear encounters, the DNR recommends not feeding bears, removing bird feeders during active bear seasons, securing pet food, and maintaining clean garbage and outdoor cooking areas.