Got room for one more?
A wild but “very polite” black bear stumbled his way into a California zoo and paid a visit to his three local counterparts, peeking into their habitat from the spectator’s row.
Employees at the Sequoia Park Zoo spotted the bear on Friday as the surprise visitor was wandering the facility’s Redwood Sky Walk, which overlooks the redwood forest area and bear habitats.
A wild black bear broke into Sequoia Park Zoo in California. Sequoia Park Zoo/Instagram
The bear was spotted wandering around the Redwood Sky Walk — which overlooks the bears in captivity in the zoo. Sequoia Park Zoo/Instagram
“The wild bear did not appear aggressive and was observed interacting with Tule, Ishŭng and Nabu through their habitat fencing,” the zoo said, referencing the three bears that live in the enclosure.
Photos from the break-in show the black bear perched over on a viewing balcony taking a look at his fellow bears from afar as any normal visitor to the zoo would.
Luckily, the bear did not attempt to climb into the enclosures, but he did come across some of the toys the zoo leaves for the animals.
One of the bears at Sequoia Park Zoo. Sequoia Park Zoo
While he was distracted, the zoo’s staff contacted Eureka Police and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to help coax the animal back into the wild.
“Overall, he was a very polite visitor. He stayed on the boardwalk path, kept two feet on the ground and didn’t try to climb over the railings!” the zoo said of their wild visitor.
“But seriously. When we say ‘wildlife welcome’, this isn’t exactly what we have in mind,” they added.
Park officials aren’t sure how the wild bear got in, but the area is home to bears and other animals, with the zoo continuing to monitor the situation.