Black bear enters Alaska hospital emergency room for candy

A black bear entered the emergency department of a hospital at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson near Anchorage, Alaska, at 2 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 12. The animal accessed a bucket of donated Halloween candy and consumed the contents before leaving the building. According to Alaska's News Source, the bear made its way through the facility and discovered the sweet treats in the emergency area.

Sherri Warnke, who was leaving the hospital after visiting her mother, spotted the animal approximately 30 feet away in a dimly lit hallway. Warnke did not possess a hospital badge, which meant all doors along the corridor were locked to her. She backed away slowly, hoping the bear had not noticed her presence. The bear then discovered the candy bucket and ate from it. An announcement was later made over the hospital intercom warning staff and patients that a bear was inside the building. Some doctors reportedly came out to take photographs of the animal during the incident.

Warnke exited the hospital safely. The bear reportedly left through the same entrance it had used to gain access to the facility. No injuries were reported during the event. Hospital staff later showed Warnke a surveillance photograph of the bear standing at the emergency department reception desk. Staff members joked that the image made it appear as though the animal was checking in.

The incident occurred as winter approaches, a time when bears typically consume large amounts of food to prepare for hibernation. Common behaviors during this period include catching salmon, digging through dumpsters, and scavenging for berries. This specific bear found a concentrated source of high-calorie food inside a secure medical facility.