By Jackie Loohauis-Bennett of the Journal Sentinel
Oct. 29, 2008 8:44 a.m. | Zero, the moat-loving polar bear at the Milwaukee County Zoo, still hasn't fallen for the old "herring-in-the-trap" trick. [img_r]http://climateprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2006/12/polar-bear-tongue.jpeg[/img_r]
On Monday, zookeepers lowered a crate baited with herring and other treats to try to lure Zero inside. The plan was to then lift the crate and the 1,1000-pound bear with a crane and lower him back into his usual yard. The bear fell into the moat Oct. 13.
But Zero, though he investigated the crate by sneaking in up to his back legs, backed out and is having nothing more to do with this obvious attempt to manipulate him.
So the ball remains in Zero's court, and he seems quite comfy with that.
"We're going to be patient with him. There is no timetable as to how long this is going to go on," said zoo spokeswoman Jenny Diliberti. "We'll take it a day at a time. He's healthy. He's not stressed out. And he's still being fed and given water every day."