While driving through Kettle Creek State Park in Pennsylvania, Sarah Lindgren noticed something unusual that made her stop right away.
On the side of the road, she saw a distressing sight: a young animal with its head trapped inside a plastic container.
Without hesitation, she knew she had to act. Her quick thinking and courage changed the fate of a small creature that might not have survived without help.
A Sudden Rescue
Sarah Lindgren, who works as a Park Manager at Kettle Creek State Park, was on her way to the nearby town of Cross Fork when something caught her eye at the roadside.
“I noticed what looked like a bear with something on its head just laying motionless on the berm of the road. I obviously did a scan before I walked up, I just, I knew that mom wasn’t around,” Lindgren said in her interview with CBS News.
As she approached carefully, she realized it was a bear cub, and its head was firmly stuck inside a plastic container.
The frightened cub had likely been struggling for hours, trapped and unable to free itself.
“As I walked up to the cub, he picked up his head. So, I went into super sneak mode to approach him,” Lindgren told The Dodo.
She reached for the container and pulled until it came loose, finally freeing the cub.
The little bear stood motionless for a few seconds, staring at the woman who had just rescued him.
“I kind of hung out, so he didn’t run out onto the road or like topple over,” Lindgren said. She stayed nearby, softly speaking to reassure him that he was safe now.
“The car came, and he spooked up into the tree and sat there and rested for a few hours,” she added.
The Cub’s Story Spreads
After the rescue, Lindgren shared a short video of the moment on social media. The clip quickly went viral, capturing the hearts of thousands who admired her kindness and bravery.
Many people asked how the cub was doing afterward, and Sarah soon shared an update.
She contacted the Pennsylvania Game Commission, who confirmed that the cub was old enough to take care of himself and would be fine on his own.
“The famous bear cub recovering in a tree. Mom hasn’t been around through the whole ordeal, but the cub is old enough to survive on its own. It’s certainly not an ideal situation, but it’s better off today than it was on Sunday,” Sarah said in her Facebook post.
She also explained that the area around Kettle Creek has a healthy bear population, which gives the young cub a good chance of survival.
“The biggest message here is just to be bear wise, you know securing your trash and securing your food items. It’s a big part of being bear wise. It was just ‘Oh I need to do this, and I just did it’. I did what I legally could do, and I’m happy that I came along to help,” Lindgren said.
Since the rescue, the little bear has become somewhat of a local favorite, and many people have praised Sarah for her compassion.
For Lindgren, it wasn’t about recognition. It was about doing the right thing. She has helped animals before, and her latest act of kindness is a reminder that one person’s decision to stop and help can change everything.
