Pepperoni to go (and better hurry it up): Black bear terrifies customers as he drops in for a late-night pizza

By Mail Foreign Service


Self-service: The grown black bear leans on the counter as he swipes the pizzas from Fat Tony's in Whistler, Canada


Traditionally, bears like nothing better than a pot of honey to dip their paws in.
But this hungry chap clearly prefers pizza.

And what a stir he caused at Fat Tony's joint in Whistler, British Columnbia, as he helped himself to a takeaway with a difference.

Customers rushed to safety as the fully grown black bear entered the premises and took pictures from behind the stainless steel counter of him wolfing down four freshly cooked pizzas.

It seemed his taste was for the vegetarian and cheeseburger options.


Having let himself in through the back door close to the pizza shops close to the 10pm closing time, the bear eventually was shooed away by animal control only after he had filled his appetite.

'I was at a bar across the road called Tapley's and I heard a massive commotion coming from across the road in Fat Tony's,' said onlooker Nicole Smith.

'I was with a bunch of people who ran out to say that there was a big 400 pound bear in the restaurant eating pizza.

Late night snack: The bear arrived just before 10pm and helped himself to four freshly cooked pizzas - with vegetarian and cheeseburger toppings

'So we rushed across the road to check it out and saw the bear inside the pizza place up on the counter eating away at a pizza.

'It was having difficulty not slipping off the stainless steel counter but was able to reach up and grab all the pizza slices it wanted.

'He was eating slice by slice and had impeccable manners for a bear.' Calmly ushered out of the pizza restaurant by the management, Nicole and her friends couldn't help but laugh at the potentially deadly gate crasher.


Don't mind if I do: The bear was eventually shooed away by animal control experts after enjoying his takeaway with a difference.

'The bear ate all the pizza available to him and then after being allowed to film for a while we were asked to leave,' said Nicole.

'They established a safety zone around the restaurant while the authorities scared him away.

'He had a tag, so I guess they know him, although I haven't seen him around.

'I imagine that they will keep the back door closed more often now.'


source:dailymail

Black bear takes a dip in woman's hot tub (But was the water too hot, too cold or just right?)

By Rachel Quigley


Surprise: The black bear was caught swimming in a family's hot tub last week just two miles from Wekiwa Springs State Park


It's not every day you find a bear in your back yard.

And it's certainly a once-in-a-lifetime experience to find one taking a dip in your hot tub.

Jenny Sue Rhoades found the large black bear swimming in her hot tub two miles from Wekiwa Springs State Park in Florida.

Cooling off: The bear broke through the screen and decided to have a rest in the family hot tub


She told WFTV that she never turns on her hot tub in the summer because no one uses it - that was until last Friday morning when she looked out her window and a black bear was in the backyard.

She said: 'I should have yelled at him for leaving dirty paw prints around the spa. I went in my office and I got my camera, by the time I came back out his nose was pushed up against the screen.

She said the bear then broke the pool screen, climbed through and started drinking the water in the spa and even though she yelled at the bear, he ignored her.

Gone again: As quickly as he arrived he left again after quenching his thirst

Damage: The black bear left a huge hole in the pool screen where he had broken through to try and reach the water in the summer heat


Mike Orlando, Florida Fish and Wildlife officer, told WFTV: 'Once it gets to that point there are things where we may have to actually have to come and get the bear.'

Florida Fish and Wildlife said there are roughly 3,000 bears in Florida and their population is growing. There are so many black bears in the state they are even considering taking them off the threatened species list.

Roy Lukman, a Longwood resident, said he sees bears about once a week and will only walk in the daylight for fear of being attacked

He said: 'It will come across between just exactly where that sign is.

'People have told me that he won't hurt you and things like that. I am still keeping my distance.'

Florida Fish and Wildlife said that getting bear resistant trash cans and only putting out the trash in the morning of pick-up day will help prevent occurrences with bears.


source:dailymail