Just days after reporting on the devastating viral photo of a deer in Spain with its head trapped in a plastic jug, we received heartbreaking reports of a male bear cub in Maryland that suffered from the same fate.
Luckily for the 100-pound black bear, the Maryland Department of Human Resources – Wildlife & Heritage Service were able to locate the animal, tranquilize him and remove the jar — but only after the terrified animal spent three days stumbling around, unable to eat or drink.
The cub — affectionately nicknamed “Buckethead” by rescuers — was reunited with his mother and sibling once he recovered.
Although this case was resolved without any loss of life or injury, it is a sobering reminder of the huge impact that careless human behavior has on precious wildlife.
The tragedy of plastic trash in the world’s oceans is well documented, taking the lives of thousands of marine mammals and fish every year, but our waste problem isn’t limited to the sea; there are increasing cases of land mammals dying from our trash habits every year.
Two Oceans Aquarium report that half of the camels that die on the Arabian Peninsula every year perish due to health issues caused by consuming plastic bags. This year, an Indian elephant died after eating plastic shopping bags and several reindeer in Norway were killed after becoming entangled in discarded fishing nets.
Not only are these kinds of death unnecessary, but they are also often protracted and painful. Some animals — like the black bear in our story — get trapped in plastic and may be unable to eat or breath, or become entangled in waste materials which cause injuries, infection and a slow death. Others ingest trash, causing impaction and starvation.
Plastic is an epic, worldwide problem that must be dealt with before it’s too late. Data tells us that shoppers in the United States use an average of one plastic bag per person every day, as opposed to progressive countries like Denmark, where each person uses an estimated four plastic bags per year.
The cases that we see are only the tip of the iceberg, and it’s up to every individual to act now to start making a difference, starting in our own backyard.
Yes – but then how am I supposed to shop? Even if I use my own non-plastic bags to put my stuff into, everything else is wrapped in plastic bags or containers – I can’t buy it without it…
HOLD ONTO YOUR GARBAGE & REFUSE UNTIL YOU DISPOSE OF IT PROPERLY — STOP TRASHING OUR DELICATE ECO-SYSTEM — REMEMBER, this planet is our home and the natural habitat of our wild life.
Put the trash in the trash can where it belongs. They have trash cans and that is what they are they are there for. It can’t be that hard.
Please stop cruelty the animals. Let them free
Everyone can make a difference, yes!
Together, we will defeat dog meat.
(ladyfreethinker.org Thank you for all you do for our frinds.
Sejam humanos e não monstros.
Treat all animals with respect as they should be.Humans wake up!!!
Humans continue to think that a loving God created them. Why would a creator of life on this planet create something as evil as humans to destroy it? Makes no sense. I think God created this beautiful planet with all the animals and the beauty of nature and Satan created an entity known as man to destroy it that’s what makes sense to me.
Marty – I believe you are right… Almost… Adam and Eve were perfect until Eve had sex with the snake/evil… Yes, this is what I believe was the forbidden tree… From this union Cain was formed, and the ‘children of dark’ came to existence generation after generation…Why do you think Jesus in the Bible refers to the sneaky people as ‘your father is a snake’?… That’s how humans got evil inside them. That’s why Jesus had to be born as a Redeemer… None of us, even even the ‘children of light’ born of union between Eve & Adam were clean enough to enter heaven since Eve has become so stained… Thus the cruelty, lies, and all bad created by children of dark, all the humans mixing throughout the generations and the bad seems to be prevailing more and more… And do not forget the secret experiments done now and in the past mixing humans with many non-humans… What do you think will be the result of this?
Not only are humans the most dangerous predators on earth, they are serious environmental slobs! I live across the street from a rent house where some e-slobs reside. I was forced to make a complaint to code enforcement. This department can only do so much against these thoughtless slobs. I plant seeds of proper environmental behavior in their young children as opportunity allows. “It takes a village.”
true
How can please help this innocent bear this is cruelity
Muovi on maailmanlaajuinen ongelma. Turhat muovipakkaukset on korvattavissa helposti hävitettävään materiaaliin. Kierrätys olisi saatava asialliseksi.
Delighted he was rescued. Thank you to all the rescuers.
thx
I love your reply, Pamela K.!
As far as recycling plastics, I called the local trash and recycling to see what they were taking, since China has cut back on taking our plastic (and who can blame then): the Boise business throws away plastic drinking bottles and anything but large containers, since they don’t have a buyer.
Please call your local recycling business to learn what they can recycle vis what they throw away..
good
Stop making plastic!
People need to be more conscientious about what they do with their rubbish.
It’s a shame how mankind pollutes the environment. Perhaps if we were forced to live and eat in the pollution like the animals do, we would be more considerate.
1967. The movie The Graduate. And where will Dustin Hoffman’s character make his money? PLASTICS! And here we are half a century later behaving like human garbage disposals wherever and whenever convenient! To the dire detriment of Mother Earth and her innocent wildlife! THE HUMAN RACE HAS LOST ALL SELF-RESPECT AND RESPECT FOR ANYTHING OUTSIDE OF ITSELF! SO…LOSE ALL PLASTIC PRODUCTS ACROSS THE BOARD! BIO-DEGRADABLE THAT DISINTEGRATES! By 2020. The movie and script for life > MISSION: POSSIBLE!!!
Like Costco & Aldi’s. U use boxes or bring ur own bags . Americans need a push to change this .
The Galarneau family
No more shopping bags like Aldi’s & Costco boxes or bring ur own. Americans need a big push on this one
I recycle my plastics, and do my very best with all plastic products to be away from animals, cause I care deeply of the innocence of the animals that look for food. I wish everyone would think the way I do..we all need to think this way.
Buckethead? Not funny.
I have become embarrassed to be a human. We are a blight on this planet.
I thought buckethead was heartless also but it may help people remember to make a change
Jarhead the MARINE would’ve been sweeter…a FIGHTER! Thank GOD that bear cub didn’t suffer the same fate as that deer in Spain that went down a ravine before it could be saved! Can only HOPE these horrific stories bring the AWARENESS deserved!
We are a cancer, a scourge, on the Earth