A fur seal entered a bar in New Zealand

A fur seal pup ran into a New Zealand bar, surprising both patrons and bartenders. The Department of Conservation had to be called.

At first, patrons mistook the seal pup for a dog. Only after taking a closer look did they realize it was a marine animal. One of the patrons pulled off his sweater and tried to catch the seal with it. However, it dodged and hid under the dishwasher. Its appearance was captured on video.

Bar co-owner Bella Evans said neither she nor the patrons knew how to properly assist the wild animal. The resulting commotion forced patrons to devise a plan to capture it. They brought a dog carrier and tried to lure the animal out with a slice of pizza, but to no avail.

Department of Conservation rangers managed to capture the seal.

The professionals said they'd been hunting the stray animal all day. They explained that the cub's behavior was normal. In winter, fur seals, especially young ones, are often found far from the coast. They get there by swimming upstream in rivers out of curiosity.