ANIMAL KINGDOM : Bear-Wrestling Bar Picketed

LANSING, Mich. — Humane society members are picketing a bar for promoting bear wrestling between bar patrons and a trained bear named Ceasar.

Capital Area Humane Society members picketed Bootleggers tavern, handing out leaflets to patrons and protesting the bar’s sponsorship of the wrestling bear. “It’s not a good idea for the bear,” said Sharon Ellis, vice president of the group. “We’re afraid that if the bear attacks somebody, it might be destroyed.”

But Jim Marquardt, the bear’s trainer, said that the bear has never attacked anyone and that the wrestling is closely monitored. “We pick our wrestlers out,” Marquardt said. “If they drink, they don’t wrestle.”

Ceasar portrays Santa Bear in malls at Christmas, wearing a Santa hat and kissing people who want to have their pictures taken with him.