ASHEVILLE - State biologists were able to remove a large plastic jug from a bear cub's head on Thursday afternoon, saving its life, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission said.
The agency received reports about the cub beginning Monday evening through its Wildlife Helpline, N.C. WRC spokesperson Anna Gurney said in an email.
The cub was originally spotted in the Haw Creek area of Buncombe County.
Wildlife biologists began canvassing the area to find the cub, and at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, they located it, distracted its mother and another cub, and successfully removed the container, Gurney said.
The container had to be cut off the cub.
Staff noticed a nearby business had a full dumpster with a trail of trash leading away from it, and they believe bears
have been looking for food in the dumpster, Gurney said. Other bears were also seen foraging through residential trash cans in the same neighborhood in the days leading up to biologists locating and helping the cub.
“We appreciate the community members for reporting this cub in distress and are happy to report it returned to its mother once we removed (the) container. We ask that both residents and businesses secure their trash to avoid these types of issues,” said James Tomberlin, Western Wildlife Management Supervisor.
This story will be updated.
Kara Fohner is the Public Safety Reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times. Email her at kfohner@usatodayco.com or call her at 980-241-8671.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Biologists save bear cub with jug stuck on head
