A wild black bear casually visits California zoo - and even greets the resident bears

The unexpected guest appeared early Friday morning, Oct. 17, while staff were performing their usual inspection of the zoo's Redwood Sky Walk in Eureka, California.

To their astonishment, a wild American black bear had wandered into the facility and was calmly strolling along the boardwalk.

According to the zoo, the bear showed no signs of aggression. In fact, it seemed curious and even friendly, spending a few moments interacting through the fence with the zoo's three resident black bears - Tule, Ishŭng, and Nabu.

In photos shared on Instagram, the wild bear can be seen leaning over a railing, seemingly observing his fellow bears from a distance.

Another picture shows him walking near the wooded area surrounding the zoo, blending naturally into the environment.

Staff quickly implemented emergency safety procedures and called for assistance from the Eureka Police Department and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Fortunately, the situation remained peaceful, and the bear eventually made its way back toward the forest without incident.

The zoo later described the visitor as «a very polite guest,» joking that he «stayed on the path, kept two feet on the ground, and didn't try to climb over the railings.»

The humorous post quickly went viral, with locals praising the staff for their calm handling of a very unusual encounter.

While the zoo prides itself on being «wildlife friendly,» no one quite expected a real bear to take that invitation literally.

Still, the moment served as a gentle reminder that Sequoia Park Zoo, nestled among the towering redwoods, sits right on the edge of true wilderness - where human and animal worlds occasionally meet in harmony.