Thursday, July 31, 2008

Sad End for Black Bear

· Wildlife officials in Minnesota tried for six days to capture a bear that had a plastic jar stuck over its head, but they had to kill the animal when it wandered into a town. The black bear got its head stuck inside a 2 1/2 -gallon clear plastic jug, probably while looking for food. It could breathe but couldn't eat or drink and was likely hungry and thirsty.

In the six days after it was first sighted on July 21, officials tried to trap and tranquilize it. But when the animal turned up in the town of Frazee, conservation officers decided it needed to be killed to avoid a possible attack on people.

This is a good reminder to kids: Never leave garbage where animals can get to it.

· Washington Nationals players will sign autographs from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. today at the National Zoo's panda habitat. The players will be there to promote a Panda Webkinz giveaway at Sunday's Nationals game. If you buy tickets to that game by going to http://www.nationals.com/panda, some of the money will benefit the zoo's panda research.