In an adorable scene fit for a Pixar movie, a young, wild, American (for my little monsters!) black bear strolled into a northern California zoo… and checked out the bear enclosure. Dude was even spotted interacting with extended bear family cousins in residence: Tule, Ishŭng, and Kunabulilh. And I say “wild” bear, but the caretakers at Eureka’s Sequoia Park Zoo would like it known that the unexpected guest “was a very polite visitor,” modeling exemplary zoo patron behavior that some bipeds could do well to learn from. While local authorities were called in, it wasn’t to arrest the bear for trespassing or not paying an entry fee; Eureka PD and the California Department of Fish & Wildlife helped Sequoia Park Zoo lead the wayward Ursus americanus back to his likely home in the nearby woods.
A wild bear in California has broken into a zoo and paid an unexpected visit to the bear enclosure.
In a Facebook post, the Sequoia Park Zoo in Eureka in the northern part of the state said its staff were conducting a routine inspection of part of the complex when they spotted a wild American black bear leaning on a gate and looking in at three captive black bears in their enclosure.
“The wild bear did not appear aggressive and was observed interacting with [the captive bears] through their habitat fencing,” the zoo said.
“At no point did the wild bear enter any animal habitats and, after a brief exploration of the enrichment items around the night house, the bear was safely coaxed back into the woods through a service gate.”
The bear is believed to have come from the wooded 60-acre (24-hectare) Sequoia park directly behind the zoo.
“Overall, he was a very polite visitor,” the zoo added. “He stayed on the boardwalk path, kept two feet on the ground and didn’t try to climb over the railings!”
My favorite comment so far to the zoo’s Facebook post is “Damn even the bears are looking for housing assistance.” But actually, I have alternative working theories on the circumstances that prompted this bear to make a daytrip to the zoo. Theory #1: The crisis of loneliness the World Health Organization declared is a global health issue is not species-specific; the little cub just needed a friend! Theory #2: Our bear recently got back the results of a 23andMe DNA test and was tracking the family tree. Theory #3: He forgot to take that left turn at Albuquerque. All plausible! Whichever of my three brilliant theories is correct — I’m betting on the first one; these are rough times, man(bear) — I’d like to know more about the psychological impact of the encounter for each side, wild and captive. Do bears on the inside know some live free range? Was our wild guy shocked at seeing his kin literally enclosed? Or was it more that he was devastated at the realization that some bears are simply given their food?? Please tell me there are adequate counseling services in place for everyone to unpack this fateful event!!
PS — I’m glad all the humans were able to coordinate a safe, and it sounds like easy exit for the “polite” wild visitor. But on the chance that a more aggressive intruder pops by one day, might I suggest they consider a Pomeranian?
PPS — According to the zoo’s website, the name Ishŭng means “she likes to eat,” and the following info was included in her bio: “Ishŭng arrived at the Zoo at a weight atypical for a bear of her frame, sex, and species, and animal care staff have developed a nutrition and activity plan that is helping her reach a healthy weight and body condition.” You guys, I AM Ishŭng!
How amazing.. the wild bear must’ve been quite confused as to why her brethren were not free to come out and roam.
True, but animals in captivity live much longer lives than those in the wild, so if the zoo is a modern type with large natural and stimulating environments for the critters, it can be a pretty nice life for some. (There was a hurt wild deer near my house and it was terrible to see it suffering but not be able to help at all. Nature is harsh!)
This feels so wholesome.
Bear was better behaved than customer’s at my PT retail job this weekend. It’s sample season and people ate the top off the mini muffins and left the rest on the plate, opened the fridge and helped themselves to a piece of fruit, and 4 people took paper cups we use for water, dipped it into the pot that is used for aromas, and decided to drink it. And while you could maybe understand them thinking it was mulled cider, dipping a cup into it, barehanded, no ladle in sight…well, you can’t make this stuff up.
Bears are so smart. I’ll bet he’ll be back!
Bear reunion! I do like to check out people’s houses knowing that I would never want to live there. Maybe that’s what this one was up to.
This is my hometown zoo and I was delighted to see this news go viral. It is a great zoo! It has been transitioning to a focus on local animals, most of whom are unable to be in the wild for some reason (injury, too used to people, etc). The bears are sponsored (and named) by one of the local Native nations, Bear River Rancheria (one of the linked Instagram posts mentions it). Plus, as you can kind of see in the photos, there is phenomenal redwood canopy walk above the enclosure and then out over the redwood park that the zoo backs up on (so the bear likely traveled through the park to visit its relatives). A nice feel good story.
That bear is adorable. Also, even if an animal lives longer in captivity, wouldn’t it be a better life than being locked up? Bears are wild animals, not domesticated like dogs. They are meant to be free.