4/25/2010:
In 1952, a black bear lumbered into the outskirts of Shields. People there couldn't recall ever seeing a bear there before, but there was no denying its existence - several people had seen it. It was even spotted wandering through one man's barn yard, six miles southwest of town.
No one could account for the bear being there...except Oscar Carlson of Marmarth. As it turned out, the bear was his pet! He had found it while at Yellowstone Park, put a strap around its neck and had taken it home. But it wandered off one day, only to turn up in Shields six months later!
So, on this date, the Bismarck Tribune warned people not to shoot the bear! Carlson wanted his pet back, in one living, breathing piece.
Dakota Datebook written by Sarah Walker
Sources:
The Bismarck Tribune, p.1, April 1, 1952
The Bismarck Tribune, p.1, April 25, 1952