Bears break free from Wildwood Devon wildlife park enclosure and enjoy a week’s supply of honey

Bears on the Loose: A Sweet Escape

In a scene reminiscent of “Winnie the Pooh,” two young bears at a British zoo were discovered in a food storage area, indulging in honey and various snacks. The two five-year-old European brown bears, named Mish and Lucy, escaped their enclosure at Wildlife Park Wildwood Devon in southwest England on a Monday afternoon.

According to a Facebook post from the park, the bears made their way into a staff-only food storage area and managed to consume what was described as “a week’s worth of honey.”

During their fleeting adventure, the bears posed no threat to visitors, but as a precaution, all guests were moved into a secure building. Staff kept an eye on Mish and Lucy through surveillance footage until they safely returned to their enclosure.

Wildwood Devon shared that Lucy seemed particularly satisfied after raiding the food supplies. They also noted that both bears have since passed away, though the context was not elaborated upon.

The escape prompted a police response and was attributed to “operational errors,” according to the wildlife park. An internal investigation is underway to ensure that similar incidents do not occur in the future.

“The bear enclosure’s structural integrity is intact, but we take any operational lapses very seriously,” Wildwood Devon commented. They emphasized their commitment to high standards of animal care and visitor safety.

Located on 40 acres of woodland and gardens in Devon, Wildwood Devon is home to a variety of animals, including foxes, wolves, red squirrels, and, of course, bears.

This isn’t the first time bears have made headlines for escapes. Earlier in 2023, an Andean bear broke out twice from the St. Louis Zoo within a month, managing to dismantle part of his enclosure in the process.