Bear with bucket stuck on head is freed after 12 days. ‘My heart broke for her’

For nearly two weeks, a black bear roamed Wisconsin with a jar stuck to her head.

Unable to eat and drink with the jar constricting her breathing, the bear had been spotted multiple times in late July in the Iron River area, according to the Chequamegon Humane Association.

Trapping the bear proved difficult because she was “covering several miles per day,” the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Officials had warned residents not to approach or help the animal, dubbed Buckethead the Bear.

Finally, on Aug. 3, rescuers captured the bear. She had been spotted in the town of Cable, and wildlife officers tranquilized her to remove the jar, according to Northern News Now.

“She’s alive, awake and in better shape than she should be considering it’s been at least 12 days with the bucket on her head,” said Jayme Morey, who works for the Chequamegon Humane Association. “She is on her way to be rereleased in a safe spot.”

The rescue came just in time, as the association said earlier in the day “time is ticking” for the bear to be freed.

Commenters applauded the rescue.

“Thank you! My heart broke for her every time I saw her in my news feed!” one woman said.

“I am SO proud of you and everyone that helped with this!!” another commenter said. “It makes my heart so happy that this ended well!”

Chequamegon is a region in northern Wisconsin and is about a 350-mile drive northwest from Milwaukee.

This story was originally published August 4, 2025 at 8:37 AM.