Michigan Wildlife Officials Rescue Black Bear Trapped in Plastic Lid for Two Years

A young black bear in Michigan was rescued after living for two years with a plastic lid stuck around its neck, a condition first noticed in 2023 when the bear was a cub. Despite the plastic ring causing scarring and an abscess, the bear remained in good health, weighing 110 pounds, typical for its age. Wildlife officials from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) finally captured the bear in June 2025 after a resident spotted it on their property and alerted authorities. The lid, similar to those used on 55-gallon drums for bear baiting or storing attractants like chicken feed, was carefully removed under anesthesia. The incident highlighted the importance of Michigan's bear-baiting regulations, which mandate specific hole sizes in bait containers to prevent such injuries. Officials urge landowners to recycle or crush containers and secure garbage to protect wildlife from similar hazards.