Is there space for one more visitor?

A curious and unexpectedly “polite” black bear made an unplanned entrance at a California zoo, where it took the time to visit its three resident bear neighbors. The bear observed them from the vantage point typically reserved for human onlookers.

On Friday, staff at the Sequoia Park Zoo noticed the unexpected guest traversing the Redwood Sky Walk, which offers a panoramic view of the redwood forest and bear habitats below.

“The wild bear showed no signs of aggression and was seen engaging with Tule, Ishŭng, and Nabu through the enclosure’s fencing,” the zoo reported, naming the trio of bears residing within the habitat.

Photographs captured during the event show the black bear comfortably stationed on a viewing platform, gazing at its fellow bears just like any other zoo visitor might.

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.

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.