Northwestern Ont. police save bear cub whose head was stuck in a jug

A black bear cub is back in the wild after it got its head stuck in a plastic jug near a landfill in northwestern Ontario. (Lac Seul Police Service photo)

A black bear cub is back in the wild after it got its head stuck in a plastic jug near a landfill in Lac Seul in northwestern Ontario.

The Lac Seul Police Service shared before and after photos of the cub, who got into the predicament late last month near the Whitefish Bay dump.

A resident reported to police that the cub was in distress and police quickly located the young bear.

“Lac Seul Police Service officers safely captured the cub and transported it to the Lac Seul Police Service detachment,” police said in a news release.

“Officers carefully removed the plastic jug without injury to the animal.”

Advice from the MNR

Police then contacted the Ministry of Natural Resources for advice on how to best release the cub back into the wild.

“Following their recommendation, officers transported the cub back to the area where it and its mother had last been observed,” the release said.

“The cub was then safely released in hopes of reuniting it with its mother.”

The rescue highlights the importance of police and the community working together to protect wildlife and public safety, police said.

“This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of properly disposing of garbage and recyclable containers, as wildlife can become trapped in discarded items,” the release added.

“The Lac Seul Police Service would like to thank the community member who reported the incident and helped ensure the cub received timely assistance.”