Black bear breaks into California library to raid snacks and eat jar of honey

Bear wandered into Mono county free libraries branch ahead of opening, snacking before wandering new releases

A California library on Wednesday had a visitor worthy of a story book on the 100th anniversary of Winnie-the-Pooh: a black bear that wandered inside, reportedly raided the snacks and helped itself to a jar of honey.

On Wednesday, a black bear walked into the Mammoth Lakes branch of the Mono county free libraries at about 6.10am, more than four hours ahead of its 10am opening time, the library director, Josef Bopp, told local news outlet KMPH.

The outlet reported that the bear raided the staff snack supply, eating peanut butter, peach cups, cookies and a jar of honey. It then wandered through the library, checking out the new releases section and reference desk before making its way back outside on its own.

The Mono county office of education on Wednesday issued a statement containing surveillance camera video of the bear strolling through the library, sniffing books, a chair and the ground on the way.

“This morning the Mammoth Lakes library had a special visitor before the doors opened for patrons,” the office’s statement said. “We can only assume the new Li-BEAR-ian was looking for a copy of Winnie-the-Pooh, published 100 years ago today!”

Bopp also had a reminder for the unexpected visitor, saying: “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.”

Written by AA Milne and illustrated by EH Shepard, Winnie-the-Pooh chronicles the adventures of the eponymous anthropomorphic, honey-loving “bear of very little brain” and his friends in the Hundred Acre Wood, including Piglet, Tigger, Eeyore, Rabbit, Owl, Kanga and Roo.

Inspired in part by a teddy bear owned by Milne’s son, Christopher Robin, as well as a real-life black bear named Winnipeg at the London Zoo, the book and three sequels have remained childhood favorites for generations. Many also were introduced to Winnie-the-Pooh and his pals when The Walt Disney Company adapted Milne’s creations for film and television.

To celebrate the original Winnie-the-Pooh book’s 100th anniversary, Mono county free libraries encouraged residents to visit any of its seven branches to borrow a copy of Milne’s classic or other bear-themed books. The library system has more than 180,000 physical titles, along with additional online resources.

Despite the storybook-like encounter, officials reminded residents that black bears are wild animals and should never be approached or fed.

They also urged people to use bear-proof trash containers and keep car doors and windows closed.

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