In the quiet early hours of the morning, deputies with the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office were called to a strange scene at an ice cream parlor in South Lake Tahoe, California.
The shop wasn’t scheduled to open yet — but someone had already stepped behind the counter to serve themselves.
And it wasn’t an employee.
“The deputies could barely believe their eyes as they saw a large bear behind the counter of the shop,” the sheriff’s office reported.
Bear Breaks Into Ice Cream Shop
The curious bear had somehow managed to get inside and appeared to be enjoying a self-serve breakfast of frozen treats. The parlor, for the moment, was under his management.
Photos showed the bear comfortably stationed behind the counter, as if ready to welcome customers.
A Sweet Tooth for Strawberry
According to deputies, the bear seemed particularly interested in strawberry ice cream. After helping himself, he lingered for a short while before being “encouraged” to leave.
“With some encouragement, the bear ultimately left, but only after showing interest in the strawberry ice cream,” the sheriff’s office wrote.
Surprisingly Polite Customer
Unlike most wildlife break-ins, this furry ice cream fan was unusually considerate.
Officials reported that the bear caused barely any damage and left the shop mostly tidy. Aside from a little cleanup, there was no harm done.
The ice cream shop soon returned to normal operations — though the memory of its unexpected “manager” will surely stick around.
Meta Description (SEO)
A bear was caught behind the counter of a South Lake Tahoe ice cream parlor, helping himself to strawberry treats. Deputies say he caused little damage before leaving.