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Man risks life to help bear with its head stuck in empty cheese ball container

It could have happened to any of us.

 

David Britton

Internet Culture

Posted on Jul 26, 2016   Updated on May 26, 2021, 9:43 am CDT

Who amongst us can resist a plastic container full of cheese balls? So salty. So delicious. So orange. 

So can this black bear really be blamed for getting one of these containers stuck on its head?

The bear, who locals nicknamed “Jughead,” had been wandering around Glenwood Springs, Colorado, for several days, but whenever anyone spotted it and called the authorities, it was always gone before wildlife officers arrived. You can hear the woman in the above video ask: “Are we supposed to catch it?”—and the answer is a definite “No.” In fact, any time you see a pissed off bear, it’s smarter to leave it alone.

But it’s not advice that Jim Hawkins, owner of Four Mile Creek Bed and Breakfast, decided to heed. He was, rightfully, worried about the bears safety, and decided to take matters into his own hands. He somehow managed to lasso the bear, and the two wrestled for a bit until it escaped into a nearby tree. Below you can see a still from a security camera that captured Hawkins getting zero appreciation from the creature he was trying to rescue. You can check out the full video here.

But the daring plan worked, and wildlife authorities arrived before the animal disappeared again. This time they were able to tranquilize the bear and cut the cheese ball container off its head. 

“He was just a little bear with a big problem,” Hawkins told the Glenwood Springs Post Independent. “He was a 2-year-old with a space helmet on.”

We hope the bear doesn’t feel too silly after his rescue. Apparently this kind of thing happens from time to time.

How em-bear-assing. 

H/T UPI

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*First Published: Jul 26, 2016, 4:35 pm CDT