Bear Breaks into Nursing Home, Creates Commotion
A black bear recently made quite an entrance at a nursing home near Pittsburgh, causing havoc as it wandered through the premises. Caretakers reported having to use a walker to push the bear away, while some even tried to coax it out with Rice Krispie treats.
Charlene Elliott, a nursing assistant, described her reaction: “I was trying to grab a pedestrian, hit him and move him away from the residents.” The incident happened after the bear broke a window at St. Andrews Village in Indiana, Pennsylvania, around 11 p.m., heading straight for the residents’ rooms.
Elliott recounted the moment she heard a loud crash from the nurse’s station. She thought to herself, “Get things out of here!” The bear, seemingly unaware of the chaos it was causing, moved down the hall, entering various bedrooms and coming close to some elderly residents.
Surprisingly, no one was hurt. “He could have hit him, that’s one swipe,” Elliott remarked, noting how close the bear came to an elderly person during its escapade.
In a rather humorous turn of events, one resident even offered the bear a sandwich in an attempt to lure it outside. “She said, ‘Well, go ahead and give me my sandwich!’ And I said, ‘No, we can’t do that!’” Elliott recalled.
Eventually, the staff managed to guide the bear out using some Rice Krispie treats. After approximately 15 minutes inside, the 150-pound bear exited without causing injuries.
Wildlife officials were able to capture the bear the following Thursday morning, using a trap baited with a donut. The management of the nursing home expressed pride in the team’s quick response to ensure the safety of everyone involved.
