Bears consume a week's worth of honey after escaping enclosure

In the United Kingdom, specifically at the Wildwood Devon wildlife park, a remarkable incident occurred involving two young European brown bears named Mish and Lucy. On the afternoon of June 23, 2025, these four-year-old siblings managed to escape from their secure enclosure, leading to a series of unusual events that unfolded within an hour. Their escape set off a sequence of actions that ensured the safety of on-site visitors and the swift handling of the situation by wildlife park staff. Instead of roaming freely and posing a threat, the bears made their way to the food storage area, where they indulged in a week’s supply of honey and other snacks, seemingly enjoying the unexpected feast before their eventual capture. The wildlife park's security measures were immediately put into action. Visitors were promptly evacuated to secure buildings as a precaution, while the staff at Wildwood monitored the situation both on the ground and through CCTV surveillance. Despite the chaotic scenario, the bears posed no threat to the public at any point during their escapade. The management of Wildwood expressed gratitude toward both staff and visitors for their cooperation, emphasizing that the situation was resolved swiftly and safely. The expert keeper team, using training protocols, managed to encourage Mish and Lucy back into their enclosure without needing to intervene physically, showcasing effective management during unforeseen circumstances. Following their adventure of honey consumption, both bears returned to their enclosure and promptly fell asleep, likely exhausted from their feeding frenzy. The incident attracted attention, not just because of the bears' charming behavior but also due to the operational error that allowed them to escape. It raised questions about the wildlife park's security protocols, leading to an investigation into how the escape occurred despite the enclosure's structural integrity being deemed uncompromised. The staff confirmed that such operational lapses are treated very seriously and that a comprehensive review would be conducted to prevent future occurrences. Mish and Lucy's journey to the Wildwood Trust was notable as they were discovered abandoned in a snowdrift in Albania. After various attempts to reintroduce them to the wild, it became clear they could not survive independently. Subsequently, the bears were relocated to the Wildwood Trust, with some time spent in the Kent park before ultimately finding their permanent home at the Devon center in 2021. This inspiring backstory underscored their value not just as attractions but as part of a broader conservation effort. Their brief adventure demonstrated the unpredictable nature of wildlife management and the importance of maintaining robust safety protocols in wildlife parks.