It was an eventful morning at Sequoia Park Zoo this past week. A young black bear who may have been looking to make friends with other bears gently trespassed into the zoo to socialize.
It was on Friday when the young bear entered the Sequoia Park Zoo and made his way to the habitat of three resident bears named Tule, Ishung and Kunabulilh. When the staff had been conducting the Redwook Sky Walk inspection and spotted the visiting bear, emergency procedures were implemented, A rapid response to assess and resolve the situation was initiated.
According to the staff, it seemed as if the visiting young bear had pushed his way through the fence, and the interaction between the resident bears and the visitor was “really sweet, calm and curious.”
So was he looking for a friend? The wild bear, thought to be about a year and a half old and whose sex remains unknown, fit right in and actually played with some of the toys. He stayed away from the other animals.
After wandering through the grounds of the zoo, the bear was encouraged by local police officers and a warden to leave. It left through a perimeter gate into the adjacent 67-acre Sequoia Park after spending about 20 minutes socializing in the zoo.
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! (But seriously. When we say ‘wildlife welcome’, this isn’t exactly what we have in mind. )
The zoo is very grateful to Eureka Police Department and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for their swift response and assistance in creating a calm and safe resolution. This was an exemplary execution of the emergency systems which resulted in the best outcome for everyone involved – including the bear!
The perimeter fencing separating the Zoo from Sequoia Park is intact and secure, and it is currently unknown how the animal gained access to the Zoo. Staff will continue to monitor the situation. Wild bears and other animals call Sequoia Park home, and guests are reminded to responsibly live alongside them by observing wildlife from a distance, staying on marked trails and always being aware of your surroundings.
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