Norway: Polar bear makes unexpected boat visit

[September 06, 2011]  OSLO, Norway (AP) -- A Norwegian boat crew recently had an unexpected wake-up call when a full-grown polar bear climbed aboard their anchored ship for a 30-minute-long sniff around the deck.

Captain Einar Vallestad said Saturday that the bear had been following the Hydrograf vessel in northern Norway for days before finally venturing onboard. The bear "did no harm," Vallestad said. "He was just putting his head into our rubbish container."

The 11-man crew was on assignment for the Norwegian Mapping Authority. A night guard woke up crew members to warn them about the furry visitor.

The crew safely watched from the steering cabin as the bear curiously wandered around the vessel before climbing back into the icy waters.

No one was harmed during last Saturday's incident.

[Associated Press]

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