Volunteers rescue bear with milk can stuck on its head

TIOGA COUNTY, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) – A black bear in Tioga County with a milk can stuck on its head caught the attention of hundreds of people last week and now, he has finally been freed.

A group of volunteers rescued the bear in Owego on Saturday, using tools to take the milk can off of its head.

The bear was first spotted last week in Newark Valley. Multiple sightings were reported across Tioga County over the following days. The DEC and Wildlife attempted to rescue the bear but were unsuccessful.

According to one of the rescuers, Fritz Rudin, the DEC was hard to get ahold of, so he and several others took it upon themselves to save the bear.

Rudin says they chased the bear until it was tired and put a lasso around its neck. They put a rope around the milk can and put vegetable oil on the bears neck, sliding the tin off. After the bear was freed, he ran away.

“Growing up on a farm we’ve rescued animals from all sorts of different situations. We were all happy to see the bear run off. None of this was possible without everyone involved,” said Rudin

Rudin was assisted by Danielle Wagner, Everett Wagner, Pat Hogan and Maggie Hogan.

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