Black bear sneaks in PA nursing home. See how Rice Krispies Treats save the day

Quick thinking — along with some sweet treats — helped prevent disaster when a black bear broke into a Pennsylvania nursing home.

The juvenile bear used a window to break into St. Andrew’s Village in Indiana, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday, June 3, according to Presbyterian Senior Living, which owns the facility.

“I grabbed a walker and was hitting him, trying to get him away from the residents,” Charlene Elliott, who works in the facility as a nurse, told KDKA. “Cause my thought was he was going to, from quick reaction from them, he’s going to maul them or swipe, slap at them. That was my worst fear.”

She told WPXI the bear got onto multiple residents’ beds, even “getting nose-to-nose with one of them.”

Facing a dire situation, staff members used Rice Krispies Treats in their attempts to lure the bear outside, officials said.

The bear was safely removed from the facility, and no residents or employees were harmed.

Officials said the entire ordeal took no more than 15 minutes, according to the Indiana Gazette.

Elliott told KDKA she “went above and beyond” to ensure the safety of the residents in the nursing home.

“We are incredibly proud of our team’s quick thinking and dedication to ensuring the safety of everyone in our community,” Christine Holt, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Presbyterian Senior Living, said in a statement to McClatchy News.

More sweet treats were used to trap the bear, according to Pennsylvania Game Commission Lt. Andy Harvey, who told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that the bear was caught using doughnuts and pastries as bait.

The 118-pound bear, which was also unharmed, was relocated in Cambria County, according to the Post-Gazette.

“We appreciate the support of our residents, families, and local authorities in managing this unique situation, and we remain committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for all,” Holt said in the statement.

Though it’s not common for bears to break into buildings, it is normal to see yearlings on their own in the late spring, when their mothers drive them off before breeding season, the Indiana Gazette reported.

Indiana, Pennsylvania, is about a 60-mile drive northeast from Pittsburgh.