A black bear with what appeared to be a collar around its neck was recently rescued by Pennsylvania Game Commission officers.

Lt. Aaron Morrow, of the commission’s Northeast Region, said the commission had been receiving reports of a “collared” bear frequenting an area of Monroe County.

“Knowing no radio collars had been deployed in the area, game wardens knew something wasn’t right,” he said.

He noted that Warden Dillon Gruver set a live trap in the area, hoping to safely capture the bear and check the “collar.”

“It didn’t take long before the bear entered the trap,” Morrow said.

Commission officers then sedated the bear to get a look at what was around its neck.

“And that’s when the situation changed,” Morrow said. “Warden Gruver quickly discovered the object was not a collar at all, but a metal band lodged around the bear’s neck that had already caused visible lacerations.”

Gruver used metal snips to remove the metal band.

“Our wardens then continued to monitor and process the bear until it was able to safely wander off into a remote area of state game lands” in Coolbaugh Township, Morrow said.

He noted that the lacerations caused by the band did not permanently harm the bear. The wounds will heal on their own, he said.

“A huge thank you to the concerned citizens who reported this bear and an even bigger thank you to our dedicated game wardens, who go above and beyond the course of their duties every single day,” Morrow said.

Anyone who suspects wildlife is sick, injured or in distress should contact the commission at 833-PGC-WILD (833-742-9453).