Bear finally freed by rescuers after getting head stuck in giant stove pipe

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A young black bear in Oliver, British Columbia, spent almost two weeks getting around a vineyard and orchard with a stovepipe stuck on its head. It kept bumping into things before wildlife officers were finally able to find and help it.

For as long as two weeks, people in the area had been reporting a bear to the B.C. Conservation Officer Service. However, the bear would always run into the woods before officers could arrive.

A local resident described the animal as resembling a large anteater. Authorities were concerned that because of its limited eyesight, it might wander onto the highway.

On Saturday morning, cyclist Curtis Pirie saw a bear and, along with his neighbor, attempted to remove a pipe that was bothering it. This startled the bear, causing it to climb a tree.

Rescuers tranquillize the bear to provide aid

Because Pirie couldn’t get to the bear stuck in the tree, his wife contacted the Conservation Officer Service. Pirie remained with the bear for more than two hours to keep it from escaping until help arrived.

After police arrived in Kelowna, they were able to calm the bear with a tranquilliser, but it still couldn’t get down from the tree. CBC News reported that rescuers then used a long pole to gently guide the bear downwards and finally remove the pipe stuck around its head.

Although quite skinny, the bear appeared generally healthy. It had been getting water from a nearby irrigation ditch. Wildlife officers tagged the bear and moved it to a wooded area.

Sergeant James Zucchelli cautioned residents that putting out garbage accessible to animals is against the law, and believes the pipe was likely taken because it was thrown away as trash.

This isn’t the only strange animal rescue that’s been in the news lately. Back in early 2026, rescuers in Staffordshire, England, had to free a pony that got stuck inside a very large, 196-pound tractor tire.

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2026-06-13 15:49