For nearly two harrowing weeks, the life of a young female black bear hung in the balance. The 2-year-old bear, weighing around 70 pounds, had become trapped with a large, rigid plastic jar stuck tightly over her head — a situation that left her unable to eat and barely able to drink.

She was first spotted wandering through wooded areas and neighborhoods, the container clearly lodged over her head like a suffocating helmet. Despite the severe limitations and growing weakness, the bear continued to roam, covering dozens of miles in search of help or some form of relief. Wildlife experts estimate she traveled more than 40 miles during her ordeal.

With no way to remove the jar on her own, and increasingly at risk from dehydration and starvation, the bear’s situation grew more urgent with each passing day. Wildlife officials began receiving public sightings and immediately set up live traps and surveillance cameras in the areas she was last seen. However, the bear’s continual movement made it almost impossible to pinpoint her next location. Time and again, she stayed just out of reach, unknowingly avoiding the very people trying to save her life.

“We knew she was in real trouble,” said a state wildlife officer. “Each day she went without food or clean water made her survival less likely. But she was determined. She kept moving.”

After nearly 12 days of tracking and hoping, a breakthrough finally occurred. A family staying in a remote cabin in the woods spotted the bear emerging cautiously from the trees. She appeared frail and disoriented, her body thin and movements slow from exhaustion. Recognizing the severity of the situation, the family kept a respectful distance while one member immediately called wildlife authorities.

In an extraordinary act of calm and care, another family member gently followed the bear, speaking softly and waving his arms to keep her within sight without scaring her away. His steady presence made all the difference.

A trained wildlife responder soon arrived and safely sedated the bear using an immobilization dart. As soon as she fell asleep, the rescue team rushed in, carefully cutting through the plastic jar that had caused her so much pain and distress.

To everyone’s relief, the bear’s head and neck were free from major injuries — no deep wounds, just clear signs of dehydration and significant weight loss. “It’s absolutely remarkable that she survived nearly two weeks in that condition,” said one of the rescuers. “She was incredibly lucky, and incredibly strong.”

After removing the jar, the team transported the bear to a quiet, forested area far from human activity, one rich with berries and other natural food sources. Once the sedation wore off, she awoke alert, looked around cautiously, and began eating nearby berries — a sign that her strength was already returning.

The bear, now affectionately nicknamed "Jarhead" by some online followers, is expected to make a full recovery. Her story is a powerful reminder of the importance of keeping wild areas free of plastic waste, which continues to pose a deadly threat to animals around the world.

For those involved, the rescue was an unforgettable moment.

“Seeing her finally free — seeing her eat, breathe, and move without that jar — it’s something I’ll carry with me forever,” said one of the responders. “She’s a survivor.”