Fact Check: "Bear lid removal took just minutes after two years of suffering!"
What We Know
A black bear in Michigan had a plastic lid stuck around its neck for approximately two years. The bear was first spotted in 2023 as a cub, and it was frequently observed on trail cameras while wearing the lid. Wildlife experts from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) were alerted to the bear's presence and successfully trapped it on June 2, 2025. The lid was removed shortly thereafter, taking only a few minutes to cut off once the bear was immobilized with an injection (AP News, ClickOnDetroit).
The bear was found to have some scarring and an abscess on its neck but was otherwise in surprisingly good health, weighing around 110 pounds, which is typical for a two-year-old bear (ClickOnDetroit, NBC News). The DNR noted that the bear managed to survive and feed itself despite the discomfort caused by the lid (AP News).
Analysis
The claim that the removal of the lid took just minutes is supported by multiple credible sources. The Michigan DNR staff confirmed that after the bear was safely trapped and immobilized, the actual cutting off of the lid was a quick process (ClickOnDetroit, MLive). Wildlife biologist Angela Kujawa, who was present during the procedure, corroborated this by stating that the lid was removed swiftly once they had the bear under anesthesia (AP News).
The sources used in this fact check are reputable and provide consistent information regarding the events. The AP News article is a well-established news outlet known for its accurate reporting, while ClickOnDetroit and MLive are local news platforms that cover Michigan news extensively and have reported on the bear's situation in detail. Both outlets have quoted DNR officials, adding credibility to the information presented (ClickOnDetroit, MLive).
Conclusion
The claim that the bear lid removal took just minutes after two years of suffering is True. The evidence from multiple reliable sources confirms that the lid was removed quickly once the bear was trapped and immobilized, and the bear was able to recover from its ordeal.
Sources
- A Michigan bear roamed the woods for two years with an awful lid on his neck. Not anymore.
- Michigan bear freed after plastic lid stuck on neck for 2 years, DNR says
- Michigan bear finally free of lid that was stuck on its neck for years
- Michigan DNR removes plastic lid stuck on bear's neck for two years
