Somehow, they were able to work on the milk can without disturbing the drugged bear.
Somehow, they were able to work on the milk can without disturbing the drugged bear. Courtesy of Deputy Judi Wettuhn, Menominee County Sheriff’s Department
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What the…? That must have been Robert Kiraly’s first thought when he heard loud banging against the side of his Stephenson Township, Michigan house just past midnight on Tuesday and found a nearly 200 pound bear with a milk can jammed onto its head. Courtesy of Deputy Judi Wettuhn, Menominee County Sheriff’s Department
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The sow black bear had pried the lid off an antique milk can on the porch and stuck its head inside to get at the sunflower seeds kept in there. Courtesy of Deputy Judi Wettuhn, Menominee County Sheriff’s Department
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When the bear realized its head was stuck in the can, it began thrashing wildly around the yard and through the house’s gardens, trying to get the can off. Courtesy of Deputy Judi Wettuhn, Menominee County Sheriff’s Department
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When the homeowner came out, the bear was on a path of destruction toward his car, so he somehow managed to tie a tow strap to the handle of the milk can and to loop the other end to a power pole to halt the bear from wrecking any more of his property. Courtesy of Deputy Judi Wettuhn, Menominee County Sheriff’s Department
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With the bear lassoed, the homeowner called the Menominee County Sheriff’s Department; and two deputies arrived and then called an Animal Control Deputy to tranquilize the bear so a way could be found to remove the can safely. Courtesy of Deputy Judi Wettuhn, Menominee County Sheriff’s Department
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The deputies and the homeowner finally decided that there was only one way to get the can off the bear’s head: power tools! Courtesy of Deputy Judi Wettuhn, Menominee County Sheriff’s Department
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Using a hand grinder, the homeowner and the deputies started to slice carefully through the can. Courtesy of Deputy Judi Wettuhn, Menominee County Sheriff’s Department
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Somehow, they were able to work on the milk can without disturbing the drugged bear. Courtesy of Deputy Judi Wettuhn, Menominee County Sheriff’s Department
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Finally, they cut through enough of the can to pull it off the bear’s head. Courtesy of Deputy Judi Wettuhn, Menominee County Sheriff’s Department
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After the effects of the tranquilizer wore off the bear got up and walked back into the woods. Despite the disorderly conduct, no charges were filed against the bear. Courtesy of Deputy Judi Wettuhn, Menominee County Sheriff’s Department