Press Release: Bear Visits Mammoth Lakes Library
on Pooh's 100th
Oct 14, 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Early Riser: Bear Lets Itself Into Mammoth Lakes Library, Raids
Snacks on Winnie-the-Pooh's 100th Birthday


MAMMOTH LAKES, Calif. (October 14, 2026) — On the very day the world marks 100 years since A.A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh was first published, a black bear made its way inside the Mammoth Lakes Library branch of the Mono County Free Libraries before opening hours — and, in a tribute no one asked for, went straight for the honey.

The Visit
Director of Libraries, Josef Bopp, shared that the bear entered the library at approximately 6:20 a.m, well before public opening at 10:00am. Upon entering, the bear went straight for the staff snack cabinet, where it helped itself to peanut butter, a selection of peach cups, a pawful of cookies and — of course — one jar of honey.

Satiated, the bear then took a full tour of the library, perusing the new releases and inspecting the reference desk before, evidently content with its visit, letting itself out and departing for the day. Although library staff often work long hours outside of open hours to support our facilities, programs and services, no staff were present at the time of this visit. Remarkably, no damage was reported. No shelves were toppled and no books were harmed.

"While we love an enthusiastic patron, and we understand the excitement of the centennial," said Bopp, “we do remind patrons- and perhaps more importantly our bears- that snacks are not part of the circulating collection." Pooh may be cuddly, but Mammoth's bears are wild and we have great respect for our furry neighbors. Upon finding all the doors locked and secured, exactly how the bear entered the library remains a mystery. We continue to work with local officials and experts to ensure good stewardship and support of our local bears and wildlife.

Bear visit or not, we encourage visitors and locals alike to stop by one of our seven branches across Mono County. Whether you’re looking for a good book, a community program, or a friendly welcome, there’s a library branch waiting to serve you.

A Very Important Anniversary
Winnie-the-Pooh was first published on October 14, 1926, introducing readers to a "Bear of Very Little Brain" with a very large appetite for honey. One hundred years later, the timing of the curious bears visit seems more than a coincidence.

The library invites the community (human members only) to celebrate the centennial by visiting any of the seven branches of the Mono County Free Libraries a department of the Mono County Office of Education for a copy of Winnie-the-Pooh, or related bear titles!

On A Serious Note
Residents and visitors are reminded to help protect our bears:

• Keep a safe distance and never approach or feed a bear
• Use bear-resistant trash containers and keep car doors and windows closed and locked
• Report bear encounters to Mammoth Lakes Police Department 760-932-7549, option 7. Or 911 in an
emergency.

Special thanks to the Mammoth Lakes Police Department for their support in clearing the building to ensure staff safety when they arrived. As Pooh himself might say, it's best to think, think, think before getting too close.

To help keep our Mammoth Lakes branch stocked with books, programs, and (bear-proof) story times, consider supporting the Mammoth Lakes Friends of the Library!

Donate @ Mammoth Lakes Friends of the Library PayPal


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