The first day back at school can be a little nervous, even for teachers – but rarely this nerve-wracking. While this California teacher by the name of Salmon was prepping her classroom she had an unexpected visitor, and it wasn’t a student that was so eager they’d arrived early: she had a bear inside her classroom.
A Local Bear Taking a Tour of the School
Elaine Salmon, a teacher at Peak to Peak Mountain Charter School in Pine Mountain Club, California, had a unique visitor when she returned to her classroom after a quick trip to the office. To her shock, a bear had wandered inside, making itself at home among the desks and decorations.
Teacher Reacts Quickly to Unexpected Guest
Upon discovering the bear, Salmon acted quickly, closing and locking the door to keep the bear contained. Despite the initial scare, her first concern was not for her safety, but for the classroom she had just finished preparing for the new school year.
We Know How Much Bears Love Salmon
The idea that bears love salmon is not a myth but a well-documented fact. To add to this already unusual happening, its worth underlining that the teacher’s surname ironically is ‘Salmon’ – a bear’s favorite food.
Bears, particularly grizzlies, rely heavily on salmon as a food source, especially during the spawning season. The high-fat content in salmon helps bears build the energy reserves they need to survive hibernation.
Husband Steps In to Help
Salmon’s husband, Ian Sawrey, arrived at the scene shortly after receiving a frantic call from his wife. Together, the couple worked to get the bear’s attention, eventually coaxing it out of the classroom and back into the surrounding mountains.
Minimal Damage, Thanks to Quick Thinking
Fortunately, the bear caused minimal damage during its time in the classroom. The only casualty was an earthquake emergency kit, which the bear rummaged through in search of snacks. The new floor and classroom decorations remained intact.
This highlights the assumed reason for the bear’s visit; other than being naturally curious, this species are perpetually looking for snacks – which is usually the reason behind human-bear encounters.
Rethinking Security (Seeing as the Bear Opened the Door Itself)
In the wake of the incident, the school reviewed its safety protocols, ensuring that measures were in place to protect students and staff from any future wildlife encounters. The classroom door, though heavy and secure, will likely get new handles to prevent a repeat occurrence.
Things could’ve ended quite badly in this case – imagine the classroom had been full of students! However, it does also call for an appreciation of the intelligence of bears, vividly illustrated by its ability to open the door.
“Home of the Bears” Is the School’s Slogan
While bears are known to inhabit the area around Pine Mountain Club, it is rare for them to approach the school, particularly when students are present. Despite this incident being the first of its kind for the school, the school’s slogan is ironically enough “home of the bears.”
A Second Visit from the Curious Bear
Interestingly, this wasn’t Salmon’s last encounter with the bear. The animal made a second appearance, suggesting a possible affinity for the teacher or her classroom. However, it was safely redirected back to the wild without further incident.
Just One of California’s 40,000 Bears
California is home to an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 black bears, making it one of the states with a significant bear population.
However, compared to states like Alaska, which boasts over 100,000 black bears and 30,000 grizzlies, or Montana with around 15,000 bears, California’s bear population is moderate in size. While it isn’t the state with the most bears, the bear encounters are more frequent due to the proximity of human habitats to bear territories.
The Role of Wildlife in Pine Mountain Club
Pine Mountain Club, located about 90 miles north of Los Angeles, is a community where wildlife sightings are common. The presence of bears, in particular, is not unusual, though interactions with humans are typically limited to occasional sightings.
A Memorable Start to the School Year
For Elaine Salmon, the start of this school year with a bear in her classroom will undoubtedly be one to remember. While the encounter with the bear was unexpected, it has provided a story that will be retold for years to come.
Living close to nature and wildlife is a treat, but it doesn’t come without risks!
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