BEAR EVENT CANCELED IN ILLINOIS BAR

EAST CAPE GIRARDEAU, Ill. -- Ted, at 7 feet tall and 500 pounds, has never been pinned in a wrestling match. Crowds gather at bars throughout Southern Illinois to watch him take on anyone foolish enough to try.

But despite his success and popularity, he's been thrown out of a bar or two.

Ted "Terrible Ted," as he's better known is a Siberian grizzly bear who with his owner has toured Southern Illinois competing in barroom bear wrestling matches.

The declawed and defanged bear was to be the main attraction Friday at the Hushpuppy II bar in East Cape Girardeau.

But the event was canceled Tuesday afternoon after health department officials told the bar manager bear wrestling violates a county ordinance.

Bar manager Sheila Schearf said health department officials told her a bear is not permitted inside an establishment that serves food or liquor.

But she said when bear wrestling was held in October, no one complained.

"Everybody loved it," she said. "You would not believe the interest."

Alexander County law enforcement officials also said Tuesday they were interested in bear wrestling, but for different reasons.

Alexander County Sheriff Warren Mitchell said he had just heard about the event and is "researching" its legality. He said he planned to contact the county health department to see if it violated any county statutes.

He said he also planned to meet with Alexander County State's Attorney Mark Clark about the matter.

The bear travels with its owner, Andy Richard Walker. Similar bear wrestling events have been held throughout Southern Illinois in recent weeks.

Schearf, who is in charge of scheduling events at the Hushpuppy II, said Walker, who is from Georgia, would have been paid whatever had been collected at the door Friday night.

Patrons can wrestle the bear for up to $100 in prize money. "Ted" is restrained by a choke collar during matches to assure safety.

Schearf said when bear wrestling was held in October, about 500 people paid a $5 cover charge to see it.

Last week at Hurley's Bar in Johnston City, the bear's owner was arrested shortly before wrestling was to begin, causing the event to be canceled. Walker was charged with disorderly conduct and cruelty to animals.

County authorities there said the event violated the state's dangerous animal law.

It states no one can "keep, harbor, care for, act as custodian of or maintain in his possession any dangerous animal except at a properly maintained zoological park, federally licensed exhibit, circus, scientific or educational institution, research laboratory, veterinary hospital or animal refuge in an escape-proof enclosure."

The statute includes bears as dangerous animals, and violating it is a class C misdemeanor.

The sheriff said he wasn't aware bear wrestling was held at the bar in October.

Schearf said she received one call from an animal rights activist last week concerning the bear, but said she asked the woman to watch the event before she criticized it. She said Walker has a state license that allows him to keep the bear.

The Illinois General Assembly has approved an animal welfare statute taking effect in July that will outlaw bear wrestling.

But Schearf insists the bear enjoys his work. "The bear was raised to do this," she said. "The last time he was here I sat right next to him and fed him a Snicker's bar. He's just a big teddy bear."

Schearf said the bear is normally calm, but after several hours of wrestling, can get "hyper."

The event is popular with college students, she said. About 70 people signed up to wrestle the bear in October, but only 10 are allowed to wrestle the bear in one night.

The object is to pin the bear, she said, although no one's ever done it. The audience chooses the winner, in October a Southeast Missouri State University football player.

Before patrons are allowed to wrestle the bear, they must sign a release and are not allowed to hit the bear or pull its hair, she said.

Schearf said people like to watch bear wrestling because it's a chance to see a huge grizzly up close.

"People sit around the edge of the ring when the bear is out there wrestling," she said. "They can stand right there and watch it."