A surprising event took place at Wildwood Devon, a wildlife park in southwest England, when two four-year-old European brown bear siblings—Mish and Lucy—escaped from their enclosure one afternoon.
Their first stop? The park’s staff food storage area. Surveillance cameras caught the pair heading straight for shelves stocked with honey, apples, bananas, and peanut butter. They tore through jars of honey, enjoying every bit, and eventually fell asleep surrounded by their tasty mess.
Although visitors were present in the park at the time, officials confirmed there was never any direct threat to public safety. Still, as a precaution, all 16 guests were calmly guided into a secure building. Staff monitored the bears closely through CCTV and on foot, while preparing to lead the bears back into their enclosure.
Using “recall” training and familiar cues, the staff rang a bell and guided Mish and Lucy gently back to their enclosure. The bears, now full and tired, returned calmly and settled into a nap.
The incident prompted a quick response from police and emergency services as part of protocol. Wildwood’s zoological director, Mark Habben, explained that the escape was due to an “operational error” and not a fault in the enclosure itself. A full internal review is now underway to strengthen routines and prevent any similar future incidents.
Mish and Lucy’s backstory adds heart to the event. The siblings were rescued from Albania in 2019 after being found abandoned in a snowdrift as cubs. Attempts to return them to the wild failed, and Wildwood Devon became their permanent home in 2021. They now live in a large, natural habitat where they play, roam, and engage in daily enrichment activities.
According to staff, the bears are known for their curious and playful personalities—traits that were on full display during their sticky adventure. The park emphasized that while the incident ended safely, it serves as an important reminder about the need for constant care, awareness, and vigilance when working with wildlife.
Wildwood officials praised their team for their calm, efficient response and highlighted their commitment to animal welfare and public safety. They also noted that the bears were unharmed and completely relaxed after the event.
This light-hearted yet important incident reminds us how intelligent and determined animals can be. Mish and Lucy’s “honey heist” was more sweet than scary, and it offers a valuable lesson in animal care, human preparedness, and the charm of the unexpected in nature.
In the end, two adventurous bears taught everyone a little more about caution, resilience, and of course, their deep love for honey.