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Civilization's trappings prove fatal to bear

Adam Guy, Itasca State Park

A bear whose head was stuck in a plastic food jar was photographed near an entrance to Itasca State Park on July 22 by Adam Guy, a state park naturalist intern. The bear was shot and killed near Frazee on Saturday.

Some have criticized Frazee police, who say they had no choice but to kill a bear that had wandered into town with a jar stuck on its head.

By PAUL WALSH and ABBY SIMONS, Star Tribune staff writers

Last update: July 31, 2008 - 12:05 AM

The shooting of a black bear that wandered for six days with a plastic food jar covering its head in northern Minnesota has prompted angry calls and e-mails to police who shot it and debate in online forums.

The bear, a male about 2 years old that appeared to be starving and sickly after days without food or water, was shot Saturday night by police in the town of Frazee, which was bustling with visitors celebrating Turkey Days. That sighting was the last of several of the bear reported over a period of almost a week.

"With all the people around ... you're never sure what the outcome is going to be," said Rob Naplin, a wildlife supervisor for the state Department of Natural Resources in Park Rapids.

Naplin said efforts had been made to trap the bear as it moved from spots in or near Itasca State Park. At one point, the DNR was equipped to tranquilize the animal, "but we never had the opportunity ... because it stayed in forested areas" from its initial spotting July 21 until it met its fate in Frazee, he said.

Naplin said the bear "was in pretty tough condition after not being able to eat or drink for several days."

The 2.5-gallon plastic jar is the type that usually holds candy or popcorn, he said.

Frazee Police Chief Mike Lorsung said that at the direction of a DNR conservation officer, one of his officers killed the bear with one shot. He said his department did not have ready access to a tranquilizer gun and that approaching the animal to try to remove the jar would have been too dangerous. Also, the bear was behind the Baer Building while festivities were going on in front, he said.

On Wednesday night, Frazee police said they have received dozens of e-mails and calls, some from Georgia and California, most accusing them of acting too hastily. But almost no Frazee residents present the day the bear was shot complained, police said.

After the bear was killed, a game warden pulled for some time before the jar came off the bear's head, Frazee police said.