Bear Invades Alaska Hospital, Enjoys Early Halloween Candy Feast

A black bear made an unusual early Halloween treat of donated candy after breaking into a hospital on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson near Anchorage, Alaska. The incident occurred around 2 a.m. on a Monday in mid-October.

The bear gained access to the hospital's emergency department and found a bucket of Halloween candy, which it proceeded to eat. One visitor, Sherri Warnke, encountered the animal about 30 feet away in a dimly lit hallway. Warnke was leaving the hospital after visiting her mother and found herself temporarily trapped in the hallway due to locked doors.

According to Alaska's News Source, the bear appeared to be more interested in the candy than in Warnke. Hospital staff later reviewed surveillance footage showing the bear at the emergency department reception desk. An announcement was made over the hospital intercom about the bear's presence, and some hospital staff reportedly came out to take pictures.

The bear eventually exited the hospital through the same entrance it used to get inside. No injuries were reported among hospital staff or patients. Bears in Alaska are typically preparing for hibernation during this time of year, foraging for food before winter.