Menominee County deputies, homeowner remove can from bear’s head

STEPHENSON TOWNSHIP - Menominee County Sheriff's Department deputies responding to an unusual animal complaint early Tuesday had to just "grin and bear it" when they arrived at the scene and found a bear with its head stuck in a milk can.

Shortly after midnight, deputies were dispatched to a Stephenson Township home where they found a bear with a milk can on its head. The milk can was tied to a power pole, explained Sheriff Kenny Marks in a news release.

"Upon arrival, deputies discovered that a bear had gone onto a rural homeowner's porch and pried the cover off an antique milk can used to store sunflower seeds," Marks stated.

"The bear, with its head stuck in the milk can, had thrashed around the yard, tearing up gardens and had awakened the homeowner as it banged the milk can onto the side of the house," the sheriff added.

As the bear blindly struggled with the milk can on its head, thrashing its way toward the homeowner's car, the homeowner managed to tie a tow strap to the can's handle. He then tied the strap to a power pole to keep the bear from damaging more property, Marks said.

Cpl. Jeff Brunelle and Deputy Judi Wetthuhn were assisted at the scene when Animal Control Deputy Ned Hauser arrived and used a tranquilizer gun to calm the 180-pound sow.

"Deputies, with assistance from the homeowner, used a hand wheel grinder to cut the milk can off the bear's head," Marks said.

After being freed from the milk can, the uninjured bear recovered from the tranquilizer and walked off into the woods, he added.