A wild young black bear wandered into the Sequoia Park Zoo in Eureka, California, this week, briefly mingling with the zoo’s resident black bears before being safely escorted out.
Zoo officials said the bear climbed into the facility through nearby trees and appeared calm and curious during the encounter.
Staff, along with Eureka police and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, used careful herding techniques to guide the bear out through a service gate. No injuries were reported, and the bear was not tranquilized.
Zoo officials say the unexpected visit underscores how close the zoo is to natural wildlife habitats, where black bears are common in surrounding forests. The bear’s brief stay drew online attention after photos showed it appearing to interact peacefully with the zoo’s own bears through a fence.