The jar was said to be the type that holds sweets or popcorn

US wildlife officials who tried to capture a bear that had a jar stuck on its head, have shot the animal after it wandered into a busy Minnesota town.

The bear, a male about two years old, was killed by police after six days of failed efforts to catch it alive.

"When it got into town, our main concern was public safety," said Rob Naplin, a local wildlife supervisor.

The wild black bear could breathe but could not eat or drink, and was probably hungry and dehydrated.

'Tough condition'

"With all the people around... you're never sure what the outcome is going to be," Mr Naplin told the Minneapolis Star Tribune newspaper.

Mr Naplin said efforts had been made to capture the bear alive as it moved through areas near the town of Lake George, where it was first spotted on 21 July.

Efforts to tranquilise the animal failed because the bear "stayed in forested areas", he said.

Mr Naplin said the bear was "in pretty tough condition" after being unable to eat or drink for several days because of the 2.5-gallon (9.5-litre) plastic jar on its head.

He said the jar was the type that holds sweets or popcorn, and had probably become lodged on its head as the bear was foraging for food.





