Visitors weren’t the only ones checking out the animals at the Sequoia Park Zoo this week. A wild black bear managed to wander onto the zoo grounds in Eureka, where it was discovered visiting with the facility’s three resident bears, Tule, Ish?ng, and Kunabulilh.

Zoo staff spotted the unexpected guest during their morning inspection and described it as a “polite visitor” that showed no signs of aggression. The wild bear was seen interacting with the captive bears through the habitat fencing, appearing curious but calm.

Officials remain unsure how the bear entered the property, since the zoo’s perimeter fencing was later confirmed to be intact and secure. After exploring enrichment items near the bear night house, the wild bear was gently guided out of the area through a service gate and safely returned to the surrounding woods.

The Eureka Police Department and California Department of Fish and Wildlife were on site to assist, though no action was needed beyond ensuring the bear’s safe exit.

Zoo officials are using the encounter as a reminder that Sequoia Park sits within natural bear habitat. Visitors are urged to remain on marked trails and stay alert while enjoying the park’s forest setting.

It is not every day the zoo gets a wild visitor, and this time everyone handled the surprise with true Humboldt County calm.