In One Ear: Animal antics

Published 6:00 am Thursday, December 18, 2025

In Richmond, New Zealand, a baby seal waddled into the Sprig + Fern The Meadows bar one afternoon, startling everyone, and giving them a merry chase inside the establishment, according to an Associated Press story. 

One of the customers tried to convince the seal to leave via the back door, but he wasn’t having it. He ran into a bathroom, and from there under a dishwasher, which was unplugged quickly.

A clever customer went home and grabbed a dog crate, and they managed to lure the reluctant pinniped into it with salmon pizza topping, the special of the day.

The junior outlaw was on the lam from the Department of Conservation (Te Papa Atawhai), who had received several prior calls about the seal. When they picked him up at the bar, they explained his jaunt was “normal exploratory behavior.” He was released on a nearby island.

After the incident, bar co-owner Bella Evans noted that “there’s been the running joke that we’ve got the seal of approval.” (Screenshots: Spring + Fern The Meadows)

Note: Remember that raccoon that went on a binge in a liquor store in Virginia, and passed out in the bathroom? It turns out he’s a repeat offender, according to a story from USA Today.

Samantha Martin from the Hanover County Animal Protection and Shelter says he’s also suspected of breaking into the Department of Motor Vehicles, and a karate studio, in the same mall. 

However, on the good side, the publicity from his antics generated over $212,000 for the shelter from sales of “Trashed Panda” merchandise.