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Officers from Lac Seul Police Service had a surprising encounter with a black bear cub caught in a tight situation last week.
In a press release Lac Seul Police Service stated that they received a report from a community member on June 30, who had observed a cub with its head trapped in a plastic jug.
“I just jumped in the action and did what anyone else would have done,” Constable Sam Kakekagumick told CBC News.
Black bear cubs can remain with their mother for up to 17 months, but are usually self-sufficient after five months. (Sharon Morrison)
The bear was located near Whitefish Bay dump, where officers corralled and captured it.
The bear was then transported to Lac Seul Police Service detachment and the jug was removed without injury to the animal.
While the bear was eventually freed, Kakekagumick said that it was not an easy process.
“He doesn’t like being touched in a certain way or I don’t think he’s ever been touched,” Kakekagumick recalled. “So every time I tried to pull the container off, he kept screaming.”
After taking the cub back to their police unit, Kakekagumick and his partner were able to cut the plastic away using pliers.
Family reunification?
But what became of the bear now that it was freed from the jug?
Kakekagumick contacted the Ministry of Natural Resources and the province provided guidance regarding the cub’s release.
“We released it right where we found them,” Kakekagumick said. “Mama bear wasn’t around to be seen … I guess the bears will find each other at some point.”
“I’m happy that the bear was finally released from that terror of plastic on his head.”