Fact Check: Bear survives two years with a plastic lid stuck around its neck!

Fact Check: "Bear survives two years with a plastic lid stuck around its neck!"

What We Know

A black bear in Michigan was found with a plastic lid stuck around its neck for approximately two years. The bear, which weighed about 110 pounds (49.9 kg), was first spotted on a trail camera as a cub in 2023. Wildlife experts from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) were alerted to the bear's condition and worked to capture it for the removal of the lid. On June 3, 2025, the bear was successfully trapped, anesthetized, and the lid was cut off. Remarkably, despite the lid causing scarring and hair loss around its neck, the bear was in better condition than expected, having managed to feed and survive in the wild during this time (The Guardian, New York Post, MLive).

Analysis

The claim that a bear survived for two years with a plastic lid around its neck is supported by multiple credible sources. The Michigan DNR confirmed the bear's story, detailing how it was first observed in 2023 and subsequently tracked over the years. Cody Norton, a state bear specialist, expressed surprise at the bear's ability to thrive despite the lid, stating, "We were pleasantly surprised. It was still able to make a living like a pretty typical bear" (The Guardian, MLive).

The sources reporting on this incident, including established news outlets like The Guardian and New York Post, are generally reliable and provide consistent details about the bear's condition and the circumstances surrounding its rescue. The DNR's involvement adds an additional layer of credibility, as they are the authoritative body on wildlife management in Michigan.

However, the exact circumstances of how the lid became stuck remain unclear, as the DNR noted that the hole in the lid was typically designed to prevent such incidents. This uncertainty does not detract from the veracity of the claim regarding the bear's survival but highlights the complexities of wildlife interactions with human-made objects (MLive, Yahoo News).

Conclusion

The claim that a bear survived for two years with a plastic lid stuck around its neck is True. The evidence from multiple reliable sources confirms the bear's story, including its initial sighting, the conditions of its rescue, and the expert assessments of its health. The bear's survival under such conditions is indeed remarkable, showcasing both the resilience of wildlife and the challenges they face in human-dominated landscapes.