Busch bearly fails taste test

Wildlife Officials Find Black Bear Passed Out Drunk Bear Drank Rainier, But Not Busch POSTED: 8:02 am EDT August 19, 2004 BAKER LAKE, Wash. -- When state Fish and Wildlife agents recently found a black bear passed out on the lawn of the Baker Lake Resort, there were some clues scattered nearby -- dozens of empty cans of Rainier Beer. The bear apparently got into campers' coolers and used his claws and teeth to puncture the cans. And not just any cans. Fish and Wildlife enforcement Sgt. Bill Heinck said the bear did try one can of Busch beer, but ignored the rest. Agents estimate the bear drank about 36 cans of Rainier. A wildlife agent tried to chase the bear from the campground but the animal just climbed a tree to sleep it off for another four hours. Agents finally herded the bear away, but it returned the next morning. Agents then used a large, humane trap to capture it for relocation, baiting the trap with the usual -- doughnuts, honey and, in this case, two open cans of Rainier. That did the trick. Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.