A black bear wandered into a Southern California water district office Wednesday after pushing open the front door, briefly exploring the building before walking back into the surrounding forest.
Surveillance video from the Crestline Village Water District in the San Bernardino Mountains captured the small black bear entering the office Wednesday afternoon as employees watched the unexpected encounter unfold.
The bear spent several moments sniffing around the office and wandering through the building before returning to the entrance, pushing the door open again and leaving on its own.
“It was exciting. It was really cool to see a bear that close. It’s rare that we’re that close to them,” Crestline Village Water District employee Josselyn Brian told KTLA. “Thankfully, no one was in danger. There were no customers in there at the time. It was just us. So, it couldn’t have been better. Scary, but wonderful.”
Employees also told the outlet they watched as the bear wandered back into the woods after leaving the office. No injuries were reported, and the animal did not appear to damage the building.
The encounter is the latest unusual bear incident to capture attention this week.
Earlier this week, a bear in rural New Mexico climbed to the top of a utility pole near Gladstone, about 170 miles east of Santa Fe, in an encounter that was captured on video and later shared by the US Department of the Interior.
“We appreciate the enthusiasm for American Energy Dominance, but this isn’t what we meant,” the department joked in a social media post accompanying the footage.
The video, verified by Storyful, also included audio from a 911 caller reporting the unusual sight.
“I’m calling to report a bear on top of a light pole,” the caller told a dispatcher.
The dispatcher said wildlife officials had already been notified but could not safely tranquilize the animal while it remained atop the pole because it could fall.
The bear later died after being electrocuted before wildlife officials could safely rescue it, the New York Post reported.
Wildlife experts say black bears are strong climbers and may scale trees, utility poles or other tall structures when startled by people, traffic or dogs.
In mountain communities like Crestline, where bears regularly roam neighborhoods in search of food, encounters with people are not uncommon, though one wandering into an office building is considerably more unusual.
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