MARYSVILLE, WA — It's not every day that a grizzly bear is spotted -- let alone inside a Navy recruiting station. Six weeks ago, Police received a call regarding a break-in at a local Naval RSS. The Petty Officer in charge of the office believed he had locked the front door, but had apparently left it propped slightly open, and a large American Grizzly Bear helped himself to the station’s hospitality.

Recruiter Petty Officer First Class Antoine Hopkins tells the story:

“I heard something behind me as I was stacking brochures, and I turned around and just thought ‘Oh my God, I’m going to die.’ But luckily, the intense training they gave me as a recruiter kicked in. I calmly sat down at my desk so as not to startle him, and began a short presentation on the history of the U.S. Navy. The bear sat down and started to listen intently, so I began to move on to benefits and he loved it! I learned that his name was Eugene S. Bear and he signed into the Delayed Entry program right away.”

Petty Officer Hopkins tapped his chin thoughtfully and added, “He had really good penmanship. I remember he had a surprisingly neat signature.”