Barton Memorial Hospital in South Lake Tahoe had a potential wayward visitor last week when a bear strolled through the first set of automatic glass doors at the hospital’s main entrance.

Imagine those Auxiliary members’ surprise when they looked up from the front desk and saw that furry critter ambling toward the hospital lobby?

Photos were caught on hospital surveillance cameras.

Once the bear came upon the second set of automatic glass doors that lead into the hospital lobby, he became spooked, turned around and headed for greener forests.

“We do share these beautiful Sierras with California Black Bears and it’s a good thing they are so docile,” said John Williams, CEO for the Barton HealthCare System.

“Ah, life in the mountains!” Williams said.

Ironically, at the front entrance of Barton Memorial Hospital stands a 6-foot-tall fiberglass “Dr. Bear” sculpture, which the black bear walked past in order to enter the first set of automatic doors. Guess he didn’t need to see the Bear Doctor?



— Writer Denise Sloan Smart is the communications specialist for Barton HealthCare System