This week, in the early hours of the morning, deputies from the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office were alerted to a situation underway at an ice cream parlor in South Lake Tahoe, California.
The establishment, which wasn’t scheduled to open yet, appeared to be ready to accept customers — albeit under surprising new management.
“The deputies could barely believe their eyes as they saw a large bear behind the counter of the shop,” the sheriff’s office wrote.
This is the sight that greeted them:
Turns out, a local bear had somehow managed to gain access to the ice cream parlor, where he settled in to enjoy some free frozen treats. The shop was now his to do with as he pleased.
But alas, the bear’s dream of being an ice cream shop operator was short-lived.
“With some encouragement, the bear ultimately left, but only after showing interest in the strawberry ice cream,” the sheriff’s office wrote.
According to officials, the bear seemed to have taken his brief role as ice cream shop manager seriously, being sure to keep things relatively tidy as he went about his business.
“[He] caused barely any property damage and there was barely any cleanup,” the sheriff’s office wrote.