You'll Want to See What Happens When a Real Condor Escapes During the National Anthem of a Hockey Game

(Photo: Screen Shot/YouTube)

Certain mascots are probably best left at the zoo, particularly if the sporting event you're planning on bringing it to takes place on ice.

But you'll be happy the Bakersfield Condors decided to throw caution to the wind, because the incident made for hilarious television.

USA Today summarizes:

The ECHL's Bakersfield Condors decided to bring out a REAL CONDOR for the National Anthem because sure what could possibly happen?

Everything. Everything could possibly happen.

A quick rundown of Things the Real Condor Did at a Minor League Hockey Game.

* Escape, not once, but twice (!) from its handler

* Try, with varying degrees of success and hilarity, to walk on the ice

* Join its fellow Condors on the team's bench

* Delight and terrify these same hockey players

* Show itself out, through the tunnel to the locker room.

(Photo: Screen Shot/YouTube)

The condor, which is apparently a type of vulture, escaped in the middle of the national anthem.  One man tried to surreptitiously recover it without being a distraction, but failed miserably.  He slipped, fell, and set the bird free once more.

It was a hilarious scene from that point forward, the bird walking around the ice as the players tried to warm up, then frightening those on the bench when it spread it wings and flew up to join them.

"This is the greatest thing I've ever seen," one announcer said, completely unable to contain his laughter.

Watch the entire video via Deadspin, below:

(H/T: Deadspin)