BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The last day of classes at a California school and a graduation ceremony at a neighbouring school were interrupted by an unexpected guest: a black bear that wandered onto school property.

Kern County Animal Control officers say the young black bear’s arrival forced students who were outside to return to their classrooms. But the animal kept its distance, and nobody was in danger.

Within minutes, officers cornered the animal at an apartment complex, hit it with a stun gun and loaded it into a truck. They then released it back into the wild.

Authorities believe the 3-year-old bear followed the Kern River into town.