HAYWARD, Wisc. - It's been nearly a month since a bear wandered into the beer cooler of a Hayward grocery store.  FOX 21 tracked down a "beary" happy follow-up to the story on how Marketplace Foods is using the worldwide attention the bear raised to bring in business and help other animals left roaming around.

"October 15th was the date," said Jon LeBlanc, store manager at Marketplace Foods in Hayward.  The year-old black bear was in the store not even an hour  that night but brought countless hours of free advertising to the store.

"You couldn't buy that publicity. I can tell you that, because I think this went around the globe three times," said LeBlanc.  He said he's still receiving calls from as far away as New Zealand.  "They all want to know where's the bear, what happened to the bear."

Authorities released the bear, unharmed, back into the wild the next day.  However, he had already left his pawprints on the creativity of many people in the community.

"It's really amazing," said LeBlanc. "A lot of people have come forth and given ideas of things to do, slogans to put on our message center."

He said liquor sales went up, bear–related items in the store are now on display in the front of the store, and he's seen and talked to many new visitors following the bear's tracks.  "People have actually come into the store to the cooler with cameras because they want to take a picture of where the bear was. We put a sign back there now."

Bu it isn't just Marketplace Foods that's enjoying the honey of this bear tale.  It's actually helping other animals that are often found wandering around, like the bear.

"This is very exciting that Marketplace would do this," said Regina Petty, a board member of the Northwoods Humane Society in Hayward.  She was talking about the windfall of money coming to them from Marketplace Foods.  As part of the fun the store has had with this story, they are selling T–shirts for $9.99 each, with all the proceeds benefitting the animals of the shelter.

"We would like to get a wildlife building established, [and] a training center would be wonderful because we're in a harsh climate," Petty said.

LeBlanc said he plans to sell more items referring to the bear visit, including sweatshirts and plushed animal bears, all boasting "The Bear Shops Here."  And he plans to send all the money to the Humane Society.

"We are constantly in need of course food, cat litter, paper towels, cleaning supplies, bleach and so forth like that," said Petty.  Since the shelter sees more than 500 animals in a year, it can use the extra money and Marketplace Foods can enjoy the extra fun and attention for a little while longer.

"It was a positive thing to happen," said LeBlanc.  "Nothing was hurt, nothing was broken, the bear's alive.  Let's just keep it positive and keep it going for the humane society."

LeBlanc said the store plans to have the T–shirts and other items available through next year.  He's even considering setting up a Facebook page regarding the bear, all to raise money for the Humane Society.