Shoppers at the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson received an unforgettable surprise on July 5, 2026, when a young black bear triggered the automatic doors and casually wandered into the base’s commissary, turning an ordinary shopping trip into an extraordinary wildlife encounter.

According to Kory Godbout, who works at the barber shop inside the shopping complex, he looked up from his phone just in time to see the bear walking directly toward the storefront. He and his coworkers quickly retreated into the break room and locked the door while the unexpected visitor continued exploring the building.

The bear headed straight for the produce section, where it selected a single peach before calmly eating it near the store’s entrance. After enjoying its snack, the bear wandered through the front of the commissary, leaving behind an unwelcome “souvenir” on the hallway floor before making its own exit through the same automatic doors it had used to enter.

Wildlife officials and Conservation Law Enforcement personnel monitored the situation and safely guided the bear away from the shopping area. The animal crossed the parking lot and disappeared into nearby woodland without harming anyone or showing signs of aggression. According to Colette Brandt, no people or bears were injured during the encounter.

The incident also highlighted the success of recent wildlife-management efforts on the base. Officials noted that bear encounters have declined significantly since wildlife-resistant dumpsters were installed earlier in the year, reducing access to human food sources that often attract bears into populated areas.