Bears Swipe Doughnuts from Delivery Van at Alaska Military Base
In a doughnut heist that took place at an Alaska military base, two bears decided to satisfy their sweet tooth by raiding a Krispy Kreme doughnut van. The unusual incident occurred while the van was making a routine stop outside a convenience store during its delivery route.
Usually, the van’s driver left the doors open during these stops, but on this fateful day, a mother bear (sow) and one of her cubs sauntered inside, deciding to make themselves at home for approximately 20 minutes on a Tuesday morning. Shelly Deano, the store manager for Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson JMM Express, witnessed the uninvited guests. The bears happily indulged in doughnut holes and pastries, completely unfazed by Deano’s attempts to shoo them away by banging on the van.
Deano described the surreal experience, saying, “I was beating on the van, and they’re not moving. I could hear them breaking open the packages and everything. I was like, ‘They don’t even care.'”
When the bears refused to budge, base security was called in, and they blared sirens to scare the bears away.
Eventually, the bears emerged from the van and sauntered in front of the convenience store and gas station before disappearing into the woods.
While it’s not uncommon to spot bears in the vicinity of the base or the store, Deano noted that nothing like this had ever happened before. Consequently, the delivery driver now ensures the van’s doors are firmly closed when stopping at the shop.
Deano emphasized the need for caution, stating, “We’re cautious when we come in, when we leave. When we take out garbage, we do it in pairs, especially if it’s dark.”
Capt. Lexi Smith, a spokesperson at the base, acknowledged the incident and reminded the public to exercise caution. She noted, “We urge the public to use caution to ensure you are protecting our wildlife and yourselves. Wildlife may be our neighbor, but they should not be attracted to our human food sources.”
In summary, two bears added a unique twist to a doughnut delivery day in Alaska, highlighting the importance of coexisting safely with the local wildlife.