Black bear steals honey from California library on ‘Winnie-the-Pooh’ anniversary

A Mono County bear decided to celebrate Winnie-the-Pooh’s anniversary by breaking into the Mammoth Lakes Library. 

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On Wednesday, a little after 6 a.m., the black bear entered the library and enjoyed staff refreshments: peanut butter, peach cups, cookies and a jar of honey, Mono County Free Libraries posted on Facebook.

“This morning the Mammoth Lakes Library had a special visitor before the doors opened for patrons,” the Mono County Office of Education said on Facebook. “We can only assume the new Li-BEAR-ian was looking for a copy of Winnie The Pooh, published 100 years ago today!”

The bear was caught on camera walking around the reference desk and the new releases section before leaving. Despite the bear’s entry, nothing inedible was damaged. 

“While we love an enthusiastic patron, and we understand the excitement of the centennial, we do remind patrons- and perhaps more importantly, our bears- that snacks are not part of the circulating collection,” Director of Libraries Josef Bopp said in the Mono County Free Libraries post.

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The original Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends Eeyore, Piglet, Tigger and Kanga are historic stuffed animals on display at the New York Public Library. On Aug. 21, 1921, Christopher Robin Milne received the teddy bear for his birthday from his father, A.A. Milne, according to the library. The bear was originally named Edward Bear. The bear was later renamed Winnie-the-Pooh after a bear named Winnie at the London Zoo and a swan in Milne’s book “When We Were Very Young” named Pooh. In 1926, Milne and an artist named Ernest H. Shepard published the first edition of the children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh.”

Mono County Free Libraries reminded residents that residents and visitors should never approach or feed a bear, and should keep windows closed and use bear-resistant trash cans to avoid encounters.