On Monday afternoon, June 23, 2025, the tranquil atmosphere at Wildwood Devon, a wildlife sanctuary nestled within the 500-acre Escot estate near Ottery St Mary, was unexpectedly disrupted when two brown bears, Mish and Lucy, made a daring escape from their enclosure. The siblings, both around five years old and weighing approximately 400 pounds each, embarked on an unscripted adventure that quickly became the talk of the region.
Visitors to Wildwood Devon, including families and children, were promptly ushered into a secure building for their safety as the bears were spotted heading directly toward their food store. In a scene reminiscent of a storybook tale, the bears indulged in a feast that included a week's worth of honey, along with berries, vegetables, fish, and meats. CCTV footage captured Lucy eagerly devouring buckets of food, while Mish appeared to enjoy splashing around and playing with enrichment items.
Mark Habben, director of zoological operations at Wildwood Trust, described the incident as a "code red," a category one emergency procedure triggered when senior staff observed Mish and Lucy breaching their enclosure around 3 pm. This led to the deployment of the park's emergency team, including firearms-trained personnel, and the arrival of specialist police officers to support the situation on the ground.
Despite the initial alarm, the bears posed no danger to the public at any point. They remained calm throughout the episode, choosing to stay within the confines of the park and avoiding any public areas. Mish eventually returned to the enclosure on her own, while Lucy was gently lured back with a bell and her favorite foods. Both bears quickly fell asleep after their unexpected feast, bringing the hour-long escapade to a peaceful close.
Wildwood Devon's spokesperson emphasized that the enclosure itself showed no signs of damage and that the integrity of the exhibit was not compromised. An investigation is now underway to determine how the bears managed to escape, as the sanctuary takes the safety of its animals, staff, visitors, and neighboring community very seriously.
Meanwhile, nearby Feniton Primary School took precautionary measures by informing parents to pick up their children and prohibiting youngsters from walking home alone. An email from the school office reassured families that police were present in the area and that there was no immediate danger to children. Nonetheless, parents were advised to remain vigilant if their children were playing outside unsupervised.
Wildwood Devon has a heartfelt history with Mish and Lucy. The brown bear siblings were rescued as cubs in 2019 after being found abandoned in a snowdrift in the Albanian mountains. Despite several attempts to reintroduce them to the wild, conservationists concluded that the bears could not survive independently. Thanks to a fundraising campaign, they were initially housed at Wildwood's sister park in Kent before settling into their "forever home" in East Devon in early 2021. Their specially built 1.5-acre natural enclosure was designed to mimic their natural habitat as closely as possible.
Visitors have grown fond of the playful duo, who are known for their distinct personalities. Mish enjoys splashing around in pools and snoozing in hammocks, while Lucy exhibits an adventurous spirit, often climbing trees and exploring her surroundings. Their diet is varied and rich, consisting of berries, fruits, vegetables, seeds, fish, meat, and, as the recent escapade revealed, a generous supply of honey.
Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed their attendance at the scene was part of standard protocol for such incidents. A spokesperson stated, "We were made aware of two resident bears having escaped from their home at Escot Park on the afternoon of Monday 23 June. Specialist officers attended and visitors taken to places of safety. The bears were safely returned to their area and secured." The police's involvement helped ensure the situation was resolved swiftly and safely.
Mark Habben praised the calm and professional response of both the Wildwood Trust staff and the emergency services. "The team were very, very calm, as were the bears at all points. The public were not in harm's way, emergency procedures and everyone did the job they were intended to do," he said. He also highlighted the bears' curious behavior during their brief freedom, noting they had a playful time pulling ropes out and exploring the enrichment items designed to stimulate them.
This incident marks the first time such an escape has occurred at Wildwood Devon, a sanctuary that has earned a reputation for its dedicated work with European brown bears. According to the World Wide Fund for Nature, these majestic animals can grow up to 6.5 feet tall and weigh as much as 1,500 pounds. They are among the largest living carnivores and communicate through various means, including scratch marks on trees. With an estimated global population of 110,000, brown bears face ongoing threats from habitat loss and human conflicts.
After a thorough internal review and investigation, Wildwood Devon reopened its doors to the public on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, reassuring visitors that the enclosure is secure and that the safety of all remains the sanctuary's utmost priority. The incident, while alarming, ended without harm and has only deepened the community's affection for Mish and Lucy, the resilient siblings who captured hearts during their brief, honey-fueled adventure.
