Wildlife Officers Get Jug Off Bear's Head After Resident Lassoes It
GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. (CBS4) - A young black bear will survive thanks to some brave people near Glenwood Springs.
For approximately a week the bear was spotted running around with a plastic cheeseball jug stuck on his head.
"My wife saw him six days ago. We beat the bushes last week to try and find him, and I'd already decided if I saw him, I would have some work gloves and a rope handy," said Jim Hawkins.
Wildlife officers tried and couldn't find the bear at first.
Then the owner of Four Mile Creek Bed & Breakfast spotted the animal, then lassoed the animal and tried to wrestle it to the ground. The bear wriggled free and escaped up a tree, but was still tied to the rope.
Hawkins received a few stitches from his "pretty good tussle" with the bear.
"My arms don't look great. Ruined a perfectly good shirt, too. He was a little weak. If he was a 300-pound healthy bear, I'm not throwing a rope at him. I'm not stupid. Just 60 [years old] and stubborn," he said.
That gave Colorado Parks and Wildlife crews enough time to tranquilize the bear, cut the rope, remove the jug from its head and set it free.
Hawkins said CPW relocated the bear far south of the area. He also said neighbors have been calling to congratulate him.
"It's kinda heart-wrenching when you know this little Yogi-bear is gonna die out there because of a plastic jug. The whole purpose was to give it another chance."
