A black bear entered a Southern California water district office on Wednesday, exploring the building for several minutes before exiting and returning to the woods. The incident occurred at the Crestline Village Water District in the San Bernardino Mountains.
Surveillance video documented the bear pushing open the front door and entering the office while employees observed. The animal was seen sniffing around the interior and moving through the building. It eventually returned to the entrance, pushed the door open again, and left on its own accord. No injuries were reported, and the building sustained no apparent damage.
Employees described the encounter as exciting and rare, noting that no customers were present at the time. While bear encounters are not uncommon in mountain communities like Crestline, where bears frequently enter residential areas in search of food, an animal entering an office building is considered unusual.
This event follows another recent bear incident where a black bear was captured on video climbing a utility pole in rural New Mexico. Wildlife officials were notified, but the animal later died from electrocution before it could be safely rescued. Experts explain that black bears, being strong climbers, may scale tall structures when startled by people, traffic, or dogs.
