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Lonely Black Bear Breaks into California Zoo to Make New Friends
21 Oct
Summary
- Curious black bear broke into Sequoia Park Zoo to interact with resident bears
- Bear was "very polite" and stayed on boardwalk during brief visit
- Zoo staff and authorities safely escorted the bear back into the wild
On October 21, 2025, a curious black bear broke into the Sequoia Park Zoo in Eureka, Northern California, in an apparent attempt to make new friends with the resident bears. The bear, estimated to be around one-and-a-half years old and 150 pounds, was spotted by a zoo staff member doing a routine inspection around 9:30 AM, before the zoo had opened for the day.
The bear had managed to climb a tree to gain access to the zoo, and was observed "interacting with Tule, Ishŭng, and Kunabulilh through their habitat fencing." According to the zoo's statement, the bear "did not appear aggressive" during his brief stay. The zoo's public information officer, Laura Montagna, commented that she thought "Poor thing, it's lonely" when she first heard about the incident.
Authorities were immediately contacted, and an emergency procedure was implemented to safely escort the bear back into the wild. The police and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife worked together to create a "calm and safe resolution," ensuring that the bear was able to leave the zoo without any disturbance or damage to the property. The zoo described the bear as a "very polite" visitor who "kept two feet on the ground and didn't try to climb over the railings."
The Sequoia Park Zoo's bear and coyote habitat had only recently opened in the summer of 2023, welcoming in Tule and Ishŭng. Kunabulilh, also known as Nabu, had joined the exhibit in June 2025 after being placed there by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
