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Discarded Teddy Bear Next to Wicker Dumpster Sparks Sympathy, Theories

By Alisa Hauser | January 17, 2017 1:02pm
 Where do teddy bears go when no longer wanted by their owners? This bear has been sitting next to a Dumpster in Wicker Park for at least four days and possibly longer.
Teddy Bear Thrown Away
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WICKER PARK — Where do giant teddy bears go when they are no longer wanted by their owners? One very big stuffed bear has been sitting next to a Dumpster in Wicker Park beneath the CTA L tracks for at least four days and possibly longer.

On Saturday morning, the stuffed brown bear was clean in a new or well-cared-for way and observed fully propped up on an overturned dresser, with its hind legs stretched out in front of him and a broken TV at his feet.

"can't decide if trash bear is sad or just chillin," one Twitter user, Scrojo, responded to the photo we tweeted. A day later, after some rain, obsoxsibhon, tweeted, "If I weren't pretty convinced he stinks to high heaven by now, I'd walk over there and bring him home."

A somewhat elaborate theory behind the bear's trashing in an alley in the 1500 block of North Milwaukee Avenue was floated on Instagram.

"teddy had to much to drink and his girl kicked him out," user "usalamanca" said.

Late Saturday night, the bear had apparently shifted its position, with its posture slumped down against a concrete structure.

On Sunday morning, a man who was drinking alcohol in the alley around 7:45 a.m. valiantly told a reporter (who was taking a photo of the bear) that he'd "clean the bear up" for her if she wanted it, and then requested Metra fare of $6.75.

On Monday night, the TV had been removed from the bear's glassy-eyed sight line and relocated to the side of the drawer.

On Tuesday morning, the bear showed signs of wear with mud on its paw pads and fur, which appeared wet from the previous day's rain. Through it all, the smile on the bear's face remained the same.

Here are some thoughts on the bear.

 

It could be a cold, dark and wet night for #trashbear #wickerpark #sweetdreams

A photo posted by alisa (@alisahauser1) on