Bucket Bear is Free
September 3, 2014 3:33 PM Subscribe
Bucket Bear Rescued A bear who had had his head stuck in a bucket in the Perry Township of northwestern Pennsylvania's Clarion County was freed by a group of concerned citizens who pinned it down and cut the bucket off with a bowsaw. (Video).
Locals had started a Save the Bucket Bear Facebook page to get conservation officials to help the bear, who may have had its head stuck for two months.
Locals had started a Save the Bucket Bear Facebook page to get conservation officials to help the bear, who may have had its head stuck for two months.
Bucket Bear is Free
Free as in speech, or free as in bear?
posted by The Bellman at 3:40 PM on September 3, 2014 [22 favorites]
Free as in speech, or free as in bear?
posted by The Bellman at 3:40 PM on September 3, 2014 [22 favorites]
Ha, Perry Bible Fellowship is a whole different thing than Perry Township, PA.
posted by sweetkid at 3:41 PM on September 3, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by sweetkid at 3:41 PM on September 3, 2014 [2 favorites]
This is awesome, but - how would the bear survive without food or water for two months?
posted by stenseng at 3:42 PM on September 3, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by stenseng at 3:42 PM on September 3, 2014 [1 favorite]
head stuck in bucket for two months
He's more bucket than bear now.
posted by Atom Eyes at 3:47 PM on September 3, 2014 [9 favorites]
He's more bucket than bear now.
posted by Atom Eyes at 3:47 PM on September 3, 2014 [9 favorites]
That was pretty amazing teamwork - an excellent example that humans don't have to break everything they touch.
posted by Pudhoho at 3:49 PM on September 3, 2014 [6 favorites]
posted by Pudhoho at 3:49 PM on September 3, 2014 [6 favorites]
The fact that he was in there for 2 months brought this quickly down from "cute and heartwarming" to "disturbing and sad, even though resolved"
posted by bleep at 3:51 PM on September 3, 2014 [7 favorites]
posted by bleep at 3:51 PM on September 3, 2014 [7 favorites]
This is awesome, but - how would the bear survive without food or water for two months?
There's a hole in the bucket, dear stenseng, dear stenseng,
There's a hole in the bucket,
dear stenseng, a hole.
posted by ActingTheGoat at 3:52 PM on September 3, 2014 [22 favorites]
There's a hole in the bucket, dear stenseng, dear stenseng,
There's a hole in the bucket,
dear stenseng, a hole.
posted by ActingTheGoat at 3:52 PM on September 3, 2014 [22 favorites]
The fact that he was in there for 2 months brought this quickly down from "cute and heartwarming" to "disturbing and sad, even though resolved"
According to the FB page, it was only 1 month. Also, they didn't use a bow saw, it was a hacksaw.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 3:55 PM on September 3, 2014 [1 favorite]
Are we sure it was a bear?
posted by thelonius at 3:57 PM on September 3, 2014 [6 favorites]
posted by thelonius at 3:57 PM on September 3, 2014 [6 favorites]
It's kind of late in the year for a bear to regain all the weight it needs to hibernate, but at least it has a chance now, as opposed to being doomed to die horribly slowly.
posted by tavella at 4:00 PM on September 3, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by tavella at 4:00 PM on September 3, 2014 [2 favorites]
Fact: Bears like buckets.
Bears. Buckets. Battlestar Galactica.
posted by Riki tiki at 4:01 PM on September 3, 2014 [9 favorites]
Bears. Buckets. Battlestar Galactica.
posted by Riki tiki at 4:01 PM on September 3, 2014 [9 favorites]
Lovely people. And that woman got to bear hug a bear! In a mud puddle, but still.
posted by oneirodynia at 4:03 PM on September 3, 2014
posted by oneirodynia at 4:03 PM on September 3, 2014
Watching that video I am struck by the sad fact that this bucketed bear has a better sense of direction than I do bucketless in broad daylight with glasses on and a map in my hand.
posted by elizardbits at 4:06 PM on September 3, 2014 [7 favorites]
posted by elizardbits at 4:06 PM on September 3, 2014 [7 favorites]
There's a hole in the bucket, dear stenseng, dear stenseng,
There's a hole in the bucket,
dear stenseng, a hole.
No need to call me an a hole.
posted by stenseng at 4:08 PM on September 3, 2014 [31 favorites]
There's a hole in the bucket,
dear stenseng, a hole.
No need to call me an a hole.
posted by stenseng at 4:08 PM on September 3, 2014 [31 favorites]
Sounds like "conservation officers" are as useless over there as they are here. I am beginning to suspect they don't do anything at all.
I'm pretty sure 'removing the bucket from the head of the now-hungry bear' isn't in anyone's job description.
I mean, I'm glad it went off well for all involved, but this could easily have been a very much less than heartwarming story.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 4:16 PM on September 3, 2014 [2 favorites]
I'm pretty sure 'removing the bucket from the head of the now-hungry bear' isn't in anyone's job description.
I mean, I'm glad it went off well for all involved, but this could easily have been a very much less than heartwarming story.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 4:16 PM on September 3, 2014 [2 favorites]
Phew! Now I can start on my Halloween costume.
posted by ducky l'orange at 4:25 PM on September 3, 2014 [6 favorites]
posted by ducky l'orange at 4:25 PM on September 3, 2014 [6 favorites]
I'm pretty sure 'removing the bucket from the head of the now-hungry bear' isn't in anyone's job description.
"A conservation officer is a law enforcement officer who protects wildlife and its environment."*
When a Pennsylvania Game Commission officer told citizens that conservation officers couldn't help the black bear because it "wasn't hurting anyone...*
That actually makes me rage, and I don't think it's just low blood sugar. Regardless of what's in their job description, their job is to protect animals from harm. The bucket threat was probably not on anyone's mind when they created the commission, but head-stuck-in-bucket certainly warrants more than an "Eh, not bothering folks. Leave it be."
posted by mudpuppie at 4:30 PM on September 3, 2014 [4 favorites]
"A conservation officer is a law enforcement officer who protects wildlife and its environment."*
When a Pennsylvania Game Commission officer told citizens that conservation officers couldn't help the black bear because it "wasn't hurting anyone...*
That actually makes me rage, and I don't think it's just low blood sugar. Regardless of what's in their job description, their job is to protect animals from harm. The bucket threat was probably not on anyone's mind when they created the commission, but head-stuck-in-bucket certainly warrants more than an "Eh, not bothering folks. Leave it be."
posted by mudpuppie at 4:30 PM on September 3, 2014 [4 favorites]
I'll take away your bucket.
posted by adipocere at 4:31 PM on September 3, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by adipocere at 4:31 PM on September 3, 2014 [1 favorite]
(but seriously, I hope the bear's transition to post-bucket life is successful and that he wasn't traumatized. Good on these people times a million!)
posted by ducky l'orange at 4:35 PM on September 3, 2014
posted by ducky l'orange at 4:35 PM on September 3, 2014
Noooo they be
stealin' my Bucket.
posted by charlie don't surf at 4:46 PM on September 3, 2014 [13 favorites]
stealin' my Bucket.
posted by charlie don't surf at 4:46 PM on September 3, 2014 [13 favorites]
I really enjoyed the stuff he did with Les Claypool.
posted by bondcliff at 4:50 PM on September 3, 2014 [7 favorites]
posted by bondcliff at 4:50 PM on September 3, 2014 [7 favorites]
When a Pennsylvania Game Commission officer told citizens that conservation officers couldn't help the black bear because it "wasn't hurting anyone...
I'm surprised by that, since it's usually really easy to get the Wildlife guys out for a problem animal situation, and they have access to tranquilizer guns, nets, and those sticks with lassos on the end. I'm glad this went well, but as noted above it could easily have gone terribly wrong.
posted by Dip Flash at 5:15 PM on September 3, 2014
I'm surprised by that, since it's usually really easy to get the Wildlife guys out for a problem animal situation, and they have access to tranquilizer guns, nets, and those sticks with lassos on the end. I'm glad this went well, but as noted above it could easily have gone terribly wrong.
posted by Dip Flash at 5:15 PM on September 3, 2014
Regardless of what's in their job description, their job is to protect animals from harm.
Their mission is "To manage Pennsylvania's wild birds, wild mammals, and their habitats for current and future generations". They issue licenses to to harm animals.
posted by unmake at 5:17 PM on September 3, 2014 [3 favorites]
Their mission is "To manage Pennsylvania's wild birds, wild mammals, and their habitats for current and future generations". They issue licenses to to harm animals.
posted by unmake at 5:17 PM on September 3, 2014 [3 favorites]
Watching that video I am struck by the sad fact that this bucketed bear has a better sense of direction than I do bucketless in broad daylight with glasses on and a map in my hand.
perhaps, but he was kind of walking funny - one might even call it a bucket list
posted by pyramid termite at 5:30 PM on September 3, 2014 [4 favorites]
perhaps, but he was kind of walking funny - one might even call it a bucket list
posted by pyramid termite at 5:30 PM on September 3, 2014 [4 favorites]
I think someone in the video said "this would be easier with a tranquilizer". That's so overwhelmingly true it's kind of sad how much effort these people had to go to (mad props to them, of course). As long as calculating the dosage isn't extremely difficult, you could have *walked up to this bear* with a syringe and then had hours to calmly remove the bucket and walk away without traumatizing it. I'd like to hear more about why the conservation officers "couldn't" get involved.
posted by uosuaq at 5:32 PM on September 3, 2014 [4 favorites]
posted by uosuaq at 5:32 PM on September 3, 2014 [4 favorites]
For god's sake, give these people a television show.
posted by the bricabrac man at 5:46 PM on September 3, 2014 [4 favorites]
posted by the bricabrac man at 5:46 PM on September 3, 2014 [4 favorites]
They issue licenses to to harm animals.
This just means you can get hunting licenses in Pennsylvania, like in any other state. It doesn't explain why they wouldn't respond.
posted by nangar at 5:58 PM on September 3, 2014 [2 favorites]
This just means you can get hunting licenses in Pennsylvania, like in any other state. It doesn't explain why they wouldn't respond.
posted by nangar at 5:58 PM on September 3, 2014 [2 favorites]
They took away his right to bear buckets.
posted by Hairy Lobster at 6:19 PM on September 3, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Hairy Lobster at 6:19 PM on September 3, 2014 [1 favorite]
Also, they didn't use a bow saw, it was a hacksaw.
Cool - I'm a city girl and don't know from saws, but I posted this because damn they wrestled a hungry injured bear, pinned it down, and sawed a bucket off its head out of the goodness of their hearts. Just seems like best of the web/people.
posted by sweetkid at 6:25 PM on September 3, 2014 [1 favorite]
Cool - I'm a city girl and don't know from saws, but I posted this because damn they wrestled a hungry injured bear, pinned it down, and sawed a bucket off its head out of the goodness of their hearts. Just seems like best of the web/people.
posted by sweetkid at 6:25 PM on September 3, 2014 [1 favorite]
Is there a direct link to the video? My browser hates the page that says you can see the video below.
posted by Flunkie at 6:59 PM on September 3, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Flunkie at 6:59 PM on September 3, 2014 [1 favorite]
Here it is on YouTube, I didn't see that link before.
posted by sweetkid at 7:14 PM on September 3, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by sweetkid at 7:14 PM on September 3, 2014 [1 favorite]
Thank you!
posted by Flunkie at 7:16 PM on September 3, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Flunkie at 7:16 PM on September 3, 2014 [1 favorite]
perhaps, but he was kind of walking funny - one might even call it a bucket list
I see what you did there.
posted by chrominance at 7:22 PM on September 3, 2014
I see what you did there.
posted by chrominance at 7:22 PM on September 3, 2014
I still don't understand what was on his head. One of the stories said it wasn't a bucket, it was a "Maxi" which is some sort of bumper on an 18 wheeler truck, containing steel wires inside the shell that had to be sawed through. Even my usual unbeatable google-fu yielded no useful results since Maxi is some sort of truck brand name that clogs up the search results and has nothing to do with any parts that would fit on a bear's head. So what the hell is a Maxi?
posted by charlie don't surf at 8:15 PM on September 3, 2014
posted by charlie don't surf at 8:15 PM on September 3, 2014
And I have a hard time pinning down my cat to give him a pill.
posted by contraption at 8:31 PM on September 3, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by contraption at 8:31 PM on September 3, 2014 [3 favorites]
Bucket Bear was on Pennsylvania Game Commission's radar, attempts had been made
posted by stargell at 9:37 PM on September 3, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by stargell at 9:37 PM on September 3, 2014 [1 favorite]
I don't know where "maxi" comes from but the "bucket" appears to be part of an air-suspension assembly for a heavy-duty truck
posted by stargell at 10:11 PM on September 3, 2014
posted by stargell at 10:11 PM on September 3, 2014
Silly old bear.
posted by amanda at 10:12 PM on September 3, 2014 [4 favorites]
posted by amanda at 10:12 PM on September 3, 2014 [4 favorites]
The sooner this ice bucket challenge thing ends the better.
posted by unliteral at 10:26 PM on September 3, 2014 [10 favorites]
posted by unliteral at 10:26 PM on September 3, 2014 [10 favorites]
Hooray for humans who take risks to save animals - or other humans. Hooray for the goodness in people that no amount of naysaying or negativity can diminish.
We had a young bear running loose in a residential neighorbood right here in town a couple of years ago. It didn't hurt anyone or anything, but the police finally cornered it in a driveway - and shot it.
Hooray AGAIN for these good people!
posted by aryma at 1:08 AM on September 4, 2014 [2 favorites]
We had a young bear running loose in a residential neighorbood right here in town a couple of years ago. It didn't hurt anyone or anything, but the police finally cornered it in a driveway - and shot it.
Hooray AGAIN for these good people!
posted by aryma at 1:08 AM on September 4, 2014 [2 favorites]
"a group of concerned citizens" = some folks that have had a few cold ones
posted by Ham Snadwich at 7:08 AM on September 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Ham Snadwich at 7:08 AM on September 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
Damian Hirst has announced his intention to sue them for £500,000 for damaging his highly valuable installation, "Bear with Bucket."
posted by Naberius at 7:53 AM on September 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Naberius at 7:53 AM on September 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
The most props have to go to the lady whose job it was to lay on the bear. Don't bears have claws in addition to some nasty teeth?
posted by mike_bling at 8:57 AM on September 4, 2014
posted by mike_bling at 8:57 AM on September 4, 2014
"a group of concerned citizens" = some folks that have had a few cold ones
As it has been throughout the ages.
posted by contraption at 9:06 AM on September 4, 2014 [2 favorites]
As it has been throughout the ages.
posted by contraption at 9:06 AM on September 4, 2014 [2 favorites]
from the article comments:
"This is awesome work guys! It also shows you two important things.
1) we do not need the government for our day to day lives. a group of like minded individuals of differing backgrounds can do almost anything.
2) the reason us country boys carry a pocket knife or a leatherman. you never, i mean never know when you need it, but when you do, its a lifesaver."
#1 : isn't a group of like minded individuals of differing backgrounds working together the essence of government?!
As for dangerousness of the bear: Although I wouldn't want to wrestle one recreationally, I'm under the impression that they are generally not dangerous to humans
posted by kookywon at 10:33 AM on September 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
"This is awesome work guys! It also shows you two important things.
1) we do not need the government for our day to day lives. a group of like minded individuals of differing backgrounds can do almost anything.
2) the reason us country boys carry a pocket knife or a leatherman. you never, i mean never know when you need it, but when you do, its a lifesaver."
#1 : isn't a group of like minded individuals of differing backgrounds working together the essence of government?!
As for dangerousness of the bear: Although I wouldn't want to wrestle one recreationally, I'm under the impression that they are generally not dangerous to humans
posted by kookywon at 10:33 AM on September 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
The sooner this ice bucket challenge thing ends the better
Bear with it for a while.
posted by Chitownfats at 10:35 AM on September 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
Bear with it for a while.
posted by Chitownfats at 10:35 AM on September 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
Yes, Eastern black bears are seldom aggressive to humans, and almost never sustainedly so (though not *never*, there was an fatal attack about a decade ago that was flat out a hungry bear going after a family), but a frantic bear being held down could definitely inflict some serious injuries in the attempt to get away.
posted by tavella at 1:38 PM on September 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by tavella at 1:38 PM on September 4, 2014 [1 favorite]
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Sounds like "conservation officers" are as useless over there as they are here. I am beginning to suspect they don't do anything at all.
Very happy for the bear and well done to the Perry Bible Fellowship for helping him out! I trust that others will give him a bit of a head start before "game hunting" him with a high powered sniper rifle.
posted by turbid dahlia at 3:37 PM on September 3, 2014 [2 favorites]