Bear Wants A Badge; Name This Reindeer: Animals Gone Wild In CA

Patch

This month across California, some wacky animals have shown us the lighter side of life. Others have touched our hearts and brought tears to our eyes as police dogs ended their watch. It's the holiday season, and being able to name a reindeer is a pretty cool possibility, but there was nothing quite like a bear roaming freely through the Donner Pass Highway Patrol Office.

"The curious bear made a return visit several days later. We think Smokey was looking for his hat," or possibly wanting a badge from the local CHP.

Watch as that Big Bear barges into the local CHP office.

In other California animal news...

Hero Dog Saves Family From House Fire In Huntington Beach

  • A family dog's barking roused her sleeping family when their house caught fire overnight. Read more on how she saved her owners lives.

Name The Male Reindeer At San Francisco Zoo

  • This young fellow needs a name. His companions are Peppermint and Holly. Any ideas? See the reindeer at Zoo Lights!

Missing A Pig? Cotati Police Are Trying To Reunite It With Owner

  • Police say a concerned resident called to report the stray pig.

Yet another pig was found in east Palo Alto.

Meet Piggy Smalls... found in East Palo Alto
Meet Piggy Smalls... found in East Palo Alto

Stray Pig Named 'Piggy Smalls' Found Roaming East Palo Alto

  • Who could say no to this face? 'Piggy Smalls' is waiting for adoption at the Peninsula Humane Society. But you don't get to eat her.

K9 Back On Job At Camp Fire After Injury, Surgery

  • George, a Belgian Malinois, is the only fire K9 on FEMA task force 3 searching in the remains. His Stanford doc is his new best friend.

The desire to help all creatures great and small drew supporters to this event.
The desire to help all creatures great and small drew supporters to this event.

Camp Fire Volunteer Will Never Be The Same

  • Despite living hundreds of miles away, volunteering to help after the deadly, destructive inferno touched this reporter in a profound way.

Rescuing Animals Job 1 For Silicon Valley Humane Society

  • The Humane Society Silicon Valley has become a tour de force in taking in animals from the Camp Fire zones.

Peninsula Dog Guide Book Published Online

  • A dozen San Francisco Bay Area hikes are featured in this online guide, showcasing trails dictated by the pooches of the POST staff.

Lonely Gibbon Moving From Oakland Zoo

Nikko's mate passed away in January and he has become increasingly quiet.

Fish scales being used to aid the birds in rehabilitation.
Fish scales being used to aid the birds in rehabilitation.

Fish Skin Used To Treat Injured Birds In Walnut Creek

  • A veterinarian from the Lindsay Wildlife Rehabilitation Hospital uses tilapia skin to treat raptors.

Mountain Lion Spotted Near Lawrence Hall Of Science

  • The big cat looked toward a couple seated on a bench, then walked away.

Mountain Lion Takes Stroll Through Fremont (Video)

  • The nonchalant cougar was captured on a home surveillance camera.

Sea Lion Rescued From East Bay Park

The sea lion was taken to the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito.

Look at that Piedmont Tom Turkey!
Look at that Piedmont Tom Turkey!

Piedmont Turkey Struts His Stuff On Grand Avenue

  • The police department predicts that he will try "to escape Piedmont before the 22nd."

Alameda County Firefighters Rescue Donkey in Camp Fire

  • The animal was found running along a highway in Butte County.

Petaluma Police Mourn Longtime K-9, Kilo

  • Petaluma PD thanked Kilo for his "years of service protecting our officers and the Petaluma community."

No one was as surprised to meet the baby as 37-year-old Eloise, this new mother.
No one was as surprised to meet the baby as 37-year-old Eloise, this new mother.

Siamang Gibbon On Birth Control Surprises San Diego Zoo With Baby

  • Eloise, a 37-year-old siamang gibbon at the San Diego Zoo, recently welcomed her seventh baby — despite being on birth control.

San Diego Zoo Expands TV Channel To Long Beach Hospital

  • The San Diego Zoo will expand its closed-circuit TV channel for kids at the MemorialCare Miller Children's and Women's Hospital.

San Diego Zoo Loaner Lion Killed By Mate At Indianapolis Zoo

  • The lion, named Nyack, had fathered three cubs with the lion that killed him on Monday morning before the zoo opened for the day.

Stranded sea lion rescued.
Stranded sea lion rescued.

Marine Mammal Center, Police Rescue Stranded Sea Lion

  • The sea lion was found near McLaughlin Eastshore State Park in San Francisco's East Bay.

Missing Dog, Owner Rescued Off Trail In Marin County

  • A man and his missing dog were rescued Sunday night by the Marin County Sheriff's Office's Search and Rescue team.

(Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news from your California neighborhood. Also, download the free Patch iPhone app or free Patch Android app. Also, be sure to follow your local Patch on Facebook!)