Officers from the Sequim Police Department recovered a wooden bear carving on April 20 that had been missing from the Black Bear Diner since March 8.

The “Peekin’ Bear” carving was the property of the diner at 1471 E. Washington St. and valued at about $1,100. It was created by Black Bear’s specialist carver Ray Schultz.

Officers received a tip that the 2-foot-tall wood carving was located less than 100 yards away from the business abandoned near a tree.

Police Chief Bill Dickinson said an officer was investigating another crime, which led to the bear’s discovery.

“(The officer) was astute enough to ask the right questions to the right person that led us to the right place to look,” Dickinson said.

“Had our officer not made that effort, we never would have found it. It was good police work. If you don’t ask the right questions, you don’t get the right answers.”

The bear was placed back on its spot on a stump looking through a window of the southwest corner of the building. When it was stolen, the bear was chained down.

Bret Wirta, CEO of the Sequim Black Bear Diner, said they are thankful for the officer’s diligence.

“There has been an unbelievable outpouring of joy since the little bear’s return,” Wirta said.

“Sequim is known for big things — blue sky, mountains, forests and farms, but it’s the little things, like a police department that cares enough to find a lost carved bear, that make a community livable.”

A $500 reward was offered for the bear’s return, which Wirta still plans to honor by donating to the veterans assistance organization, the Captain Joseph House Foundation.

The police department still is investigating the theft and looking into possible leads for suspect information.