Police called as two young bears escape from wildlife enclosure in Devon
In a tale straight out of Winnie The Pooh, Mish and Lucy immediately dashed for the food store during their hour of freedom at the Wildwood Trust site.
Visitors were "promptly escorted to a secure building" - but a spokesperson confirmed the peckish pair were not a danger to the public at any point.
"The bears were continuously monitored both on the ground and via CCTV until they calmly returned to their enclosure and fell asleep," the statement added.
Police attended the scene "in line with standard protocol" - and an investigation has been launched into how the four-year-olds managed to escape in the first place.
"The exhibit is secure, and we are grateful to our staff and visitors for their cooperation, which helped us resolve the situation swiftly and safely," the Wildwood Trust said.
Mish and Lucy were abandoned by their mother in a snowdrift in the Albanian mountains.
While several efforts were made to reintroduce them to the wild, conservationists soon concluded they could not survive on their own.
A fundraising campaign meant the siblings could be transported to Wildwood's Kent park in 2020 - and after six months, they settled into their "forever home" in Devon.
Mish is a playful bear who enjoys splashing around in pools and swinging in hammocks, while Lucy "loves nothing more" than spending time with her brother and climbing trees.
They feast on kilos of berries, fruits, vegetables, seeds, fish and meat every day.
And honey… apparently.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
42 minutes ago
- BBC News
D-Day veteran's funeral celebrated life of 'hero'
One of the last surviving D-Day veterans has been described as a hero at his "Mac" McQuillin died last month, aged 102. He was well-known in his home village of Kemble, Gloucestershire, where he was thought to be Britain's oldest paperboy, delivering newspapers into his was also known for his role in the Normandy landings. At the age of 21, he took part in the famous battle, where he helped to establish and maintain forward airstrips under his funeral on Tuesday, held at Cotswold District Council's Cirencester offices, Mr McQuillin was described as a "hero in the truest sense of the word". Mr McQuillin was born on 5 June 1923 and joined the Royal Air Force at the age of to the BBC ahead of the 80th anniversary of D-Day in 2024, Mr McQuillin said: "I wanted to fly like most of us that age did but when I got to the recruiting officer, I had a medical and found out I couldn't fly because I was short-sighted."Instead, Mr McQuillin trained as a bomb armourer and was a servicing commando on D-Day."You did anything to help anybody," he said."You wanted help putting rockets on, I'll give you a hand. A squadron of spitfires or something that will land and needed petrol and ammunition, we could all do it in about 20 minutes and they'd be ready for take off again." On his 100th birthday in 2023, Mr McQuillin joked his secret to a long life was "a full English breakfast and malt whiskey".Major Austin Hind, one of Mr McQuillin's friends, said his death on 7 July had come as a shock to the local community."He died on the Monday but, on the Sunday, he'd actually taken part in a garden party just up the road in Kemble," he said."Apparently, he was in fine form. His death really has come out of the blue in that sense because he was fit as a fiddle and still really, really sharp of mind."Mr McQuillin's funeral was held on Tuesday afternoon at St Peter's Roman Catholic Church in Cirencester.
BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
Litter-picking 'obsessed' labrador brings plastic out of sea
A litter-picking "obsessed" labrador spends his daily walks helping to clear the sea of Logie has been trained by his owners to collect bottles, drinks cans and other pieces of waste around Plymouth. The environmentally-minded dog "actively searches for litter" on land and in the James Westgate, who is an ecologist, said he and Logie were "a match made in heaven" and it was "hugely satisfying" being able to help keep the area clean. Mr Westgate said Logie began picking up litter as a puppy, and he realised the behaviour could be nurtured after the dog retrieved a plastic bottle from the sea."Logie picks up anything you ask him to - anything from a Pringles can to a traffic cone he's retrieved from the sea," he said. "We're down by the water every single day and seeing the litter really breaks my heart - knowing the plastic pollution is going to end up in the deep sea, it's going to sink to the bottom of the ocean and turn into microplastics over time. "Retrieving one bit of litter is a hugely satisfying thing but getting Logie to just go around the entire quay and sweep the whole place for litter is fabulous, we can finish our walk with bundles of trash which we then put into recycling or in the bin," he said. Mr Westgate added Logie was "incredibly loyal and intelligent"."He's obsessed with picking up litter and I really care about the environment, so it's a win-win really," he said. Known as Litter Logie, his owners shares his daily achievements on an Instagram Louise Henry, who is also an ecologist. said: "I think it's good to spread the message of the environment being an important thing to protect."We live in Plymouth and it's one of the most amazing environments. "He's a symbol for good deeds and hope, and it's just quite inspiring."
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Mapped: Worst areas for rat infestations in the UK as over half a million reported
More than half a million rat infestations have been reported across the UK in less than three years, new data has revealed. Drainage specialists have said the problem is only getting worse, with the issue now increasingly starting underground – as they issued a warning over potentially fatal health dangers linked to the rodents. Analysis of Freedom of Information (FOI) responses from UK councils showed the country saw 518,240 reported rat infestations from 2023 to mid-2025. Nearly a quarter of these were found to be in London alone, closely followed by the north west of England and Scotland, which recorded almost 95,000 and 70,000 infestations respectively. Stuart McGinn, drainage expert at Drain Detectives, which produced the research, told The Independent there is no single cause behind the regional differences in rat infestations, but he outlined several key factors that do create the perfect conditions in certain areas. He said: 'Urban density is one of the biggest drivers, as is the case in London, which has a complex underground network of drains and older infrastructure that rats can easily exploit. More people also equals more food waste, bin storage, and ample conditions for rats and rodents to thrive. 'Aside from just populated cities, some regions with higher infestation numbers, like parts of the north west or Scotland, also have large numbers of aging buildings with outdated drainage systems. Once cracks or disused pipes appear, rats only need the smallest access points, and they will then follow the scent of food and warmth straight into homes and the inside of commercial spaces. 'It could also be argued that the regional variations in rat infestations could be down to warmer, wetter weather patterns in certain parts of the UK. Milder seasons mean rats are breeding for longer periods of the year, pushing up numbers. Without proactive maintenance, especially underground, infestations can take hold fast.' The drainage company conducted the analysis using the 195 useable responses from the 251 FOIs it submitted, specifically requesting data on council-owned buildings. The Independent has mapped the research above, showing the regions with the highest and lowest numbers of rat infestations. The West Midlands, with 44,762 infestations, and Wales, with 44,388 infestations, came fourth and fifth in the rankings. Meanwhile, councils across less densely populated regions like the East Midlands and south west England still reported more than 10,000 cases each, suggesting the issue is nationwide rather than just an urban one. The fresh figures come as a supersized rat thought to be the UK's biggest has been captured by pest controllers in a home in the north of England. The giant animal, which measured 22 inches long, was found in the Normanby area of Redcar and Cleveland after a resident called in exterminators. Writing in The Independent, veteran catcher David Parnell admitted that even he was taken aback when he saw images of the rodent, described as 'almost the size of a small cat' by councillors. However, he warned Britons to brace themselves for a worsening vermin problem, saying: 'It's not just a one-off – the rats are getting bigger, bolder and harder to deal with. 'What used to be a couple of callouts a month for rats inside homes has now surged to eight to 10 a week. The vast majority of these infestations trace back to our neglected drainage systems.' Drain Detectives explained that rats often exploit damaged or aging drainage systems to gain access to buildings, especially via unsealed joints, disused pipework, or toilet backflow in properties lacking rat blockers. Once inside, they can nest in cavity walls or lofts, chew through wiring, and contaminate insulation leading to fire hazards and severe hygiene risks, according to the company. Alongside poor sewer management, Mr Parnell also blamed genetics and careless humans for the growing problem. Mr McGinn warned: 'Rats are more than just a nuisance, they're a threat to public health and infrastructure. 'We're seeing growing numbers of infestations entering homes via the drains, a route that's largely hidden from view until it's too late. Rats are incredibly resourceful. They can travel through underground pipes, bypassing typical surface-level pest control measures. Most people don't realise that a cracked drain beneath their home can be an open invitation to a full-blown infestation.' Among the health hazards associated with the rodents is leptospirosis (Weil's Disease) – a potentially fatal bacterial infection, primarily spread through the urine of infected animals, especially rats – and the deadly hantavirus, which can be caught from breathing in rats' contaminated waste particles. Others include salmonella, which is spread via contaminated food, and allergies triggered by rat dander and urine. Mr McGinn said prevention starts below the ground and is urging UK homeowners and property managers to take proactive steps. 'If you're hearing scratching in the walls or noticing unexplained smells, don't ignore it,' he advised.
