A black bear broke into a public library in California early Wednesday morning, raiding food supplies and eating a jar of honey hours before staff opened the building to patrons, according to reporting by The Guardian — World.
The animal entered the Mammoth Lakes branch of the Mono County free libraries at approximately 6:10 a.m. The facility was not scheduled to open its doors to the public until 10:00 a.m., leaving the unexpected intruder undisturbed inside the empty premises for an extended period.
Early Morning Intrusion at Mammoth Lakes
The incident took place on the 100th anniversary of Winnie-the-Pooh, drawing immediate real-world comparisons to the fictional, honey-loving storybook character. Library records and reports indicate the black bear gained access to the facility well ahead of the morning staff shift, wandering freely through the interior.
Upon entering the building, the animal located food supplies on the property. The bear reportedly raided a selection of snacks stored on site and helped itself to a jar of honey before moving through other sections of the facility.
Animal Browses Stacks Before Departure
After consuming the sweet snacks and honey, the bear continued its tour of the public library. Reports confirmed the animal wandered through the new releases section, navigating the book stacks inside the Mono County branch.
No injuries were reported during the early morning break-in, and the bear eventually departed after completing its search for food. Local library personnel were left to assess the scene and clean up the food remnants left behind prior to welcoming readers later in the day.
