Early on Oct. 14, a California library got a surprise visitor before opening time when a black bear wandered in, ate a jar of honey and other snacks, then ambled past the reference desk and out again without causing any damage.
Here's what to know
According to FOX26, the unexpected visitor arrived at the Mammoth Lakes Library branch of Mono County Free Libraries around 6:10 a.m., about four hours before the building was scheduled to open.
Food, not books, was its first priority. The bear raided the staff snack stash, eating peanut butter, peach cups, cookies, and honey.
Director of Libraries Josef Bopp said the bear later roamed other parts of the library, including the new releases area and the reference desk, before making its way back outside on its own. No damage was reported.
The timing of the break-in was especially funny. As FOX26 noted, Winnie-the-Pooh was first published 100 years to the day before the trespassing bear strolled through the library. Mono County Free Libraries invited readers to stop by one of its seven locations for Winnie-the-Pooh or other bear-themed books.
More background
The bear was drawn to food left inside the building. Wild animals can quickly begin associating human spaces with easy food sources, especially in mountain communities where bears and people live in close proximity.
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Luckily, the bear entered the library before it opened. If a wild animal had moved through the new releases section and past the reference desk during public hours, it could have created a more dangerous situation for staff, visitors, and families.
In Mammoth Lakes, how people handle food, trash, and vehicles can shape whether wildlife stays cautious or starts venturing deeper into town.
What can be done?
The library reminded residents and visitors, as reported by FOX26, that Mammoth Lakes bears are wild animals and should not be approached or fed. Feeding wildlife, even indirectly through unsecured food, can increase the likelihood of future encounters.
The library also urged people to use bear-resistant trash containers and keep car doors and windows closed. In Mammoth Lakes, bears may move between natural habitat and developed areas in search of food.
The library said people can report bear encounters by calling Mammoth Lakes Police at 760-932-7549 and selecting option 7, or calling 911 in an emergency.
As Bopp put it: "While we love an enthusiastic patron, and we understand the excitement of the centennial, we do remind patrons- and perhaps more importantly our bears- that snacks are not part of the circulating collection."
Where can I learn more?
Food-related bear encounters like the Mammoth Lakes library visit have also played out in other communities. Here are stories about drought-driven raids in Colorado, California rescues, and cub incidents in Colorado and North Carolina.
• In Colorado, drought conditions send hungry bears into towns, heightening risks for residents and wildlife.
• In California, veterinarians helped an injured orphaned cub recover after removing debris from its leg.
• In La Verne, rescuers cut open a water tank to free a mother bear and cubs.
• In Colorado, officers rescued a bear cub from a tree as sightings surged.
• In North Carolina, a cub survived days trapped in a jar before reuniting with its mother.
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