A black bear created a stir at a Southern California water district office after it pushed open the front door. The incident occurred at the Crestline Village Water District in the San Bernardino Mountains. Surveillance cameras captured the bear’s brief exploration before it left for the nearby forest.
The bear’s visit took place on a Wednesday afternoon. Employees watched in surprise as the small black bear wandered around the office. After spending a few moments sniffing the surroundings, it retraced its steps to the entrance, pushed the door open, and returned to the forest.
It was exciting. It was really cool to see a bear that close. It’s rare that we’re that close to them,stated Crestline Village Water District employee Josselyn Brian in an interview with KTLA. She added,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.
After the encounter, employees saw the bear safely reenter the woods. The bear left the building unharmed and without causing any damage. No injuries were reported. This event adds to the list of unusual bear sightings this week.
Earlier, a bear in rural New Mexico drew attention when it climbed a utility pole near Gladstone, about 170 miles east of Santa Fe. The U.S. Department of the Interior shared footage of the event accompanied by lighthearted commentary.
The footage, confirmed by Storyful, included audio of a 911 call reporting the bear on the pole. The dispatcher informed the caller that wildlife officials were aware but could not tranquilize the bear due to its height, which posed fall risks. Sadly, the New York Post later reported the bear was electrocuted before rescue efforts succeeded.
Wildlife experts note that black bears are adept climbers. They may climb trees, poles, or similar structures when startled by humans, traffic, or dogs. In mountain regions like Crestline, bear sightings in neighborhoods are common. However, their presence inside buildings is notably rare.
Brittany Miller, a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital and previous reporter for Independent, holds a degree from Syracuse University.