Black bear stays hidden near Altadena House as the homeowner decides to act.
The Uninvited Guest: A 550-Pound Bear Takes Up Residence Under a California HomeImagine waking up one morning to find a 550-pound black bear lounging in your living room. Sounds like the stuff of nightmares, right? For Ken Johnson, a resident of Altadena, California, this is his harsh reality. The bear has been making itself at home under his house for over a month now, and it's anyone's guess when – or if – it will decide to leave.
The saga began around Thanksgiving week, when Johnson started noticing the bear roaming around his property on security camera footage. Initially, he thought it was just a curious visitor, but as the days went by, it became clear that this was no ordinary guest. The bear had taken up residence in the crawlspace underneath his house, and despite attempts to shoo it away, it refused to budge.
Johnson's first line of defense was to try and scare the bear off with some creative tactics. He pumped barking sounds into the crawl space, hoping to startle the intruder into leaving. But this bear was not easily intimidated. It continued to roam around, clawing and scratching at the walls as if it owned the place.
As the days turned into weeks, Johnson grew increasingly concerned about the safety of his home – and himself. He worried that one day the bear might burst up through the living room floor, causing chaos and destruction in its wake. It was time to call in the professionals.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) was alerted to the situation, and they quickly sprang into action. They set up additional cameras to monitor the bear's movements and tried to lure it out with a large metal cage sprayed with cherry and caramel scents. But this bear was not interested in leaving its new digs.
The CDFW's efforts were thwarted when they accidentally trapped the wrong bear – yes, you read that right! – on December 16th. It seems that their trap had attracted a different bear, one that was not the resident of Johnson's crawlspace. The department is still trying to figure out how to safely remove the original bear, but for now, it remains an unwelcome guest.
As Johnson waits anxiously for a solution, he's also contemplating his next move. He's worried about potential legal implications if he takes drastic action to remove the bear himself. It's a delicate situation, and one that requires careful consideration from all parties involved.
The story of this 550-pound bear has sparked a lot of interest in our community, with many people wondering how it ended up under Johnson's house in the first place. Was it searching for food? Seeking shelter? Or simply looking for a new place to call home?
Whatever its motivations, one thing is clear: this bear is not going anywhere anytime soon. And until it does, Ken Johnson will be living with a constant sense of unease – and a very large, furry roommate.
As we wait for the outcome of this unusual saga, let's take a moment to appreciate the beauty of nature and the unexpected surprises that come with living in harmony with wildlife. Who knows? Maybe one day we'll learn more about the habits and habitats of these amazing creatures, and how to peacefully coexist with them in our backyards.
For now, though, it seems like this bear is here to stay – at least until someone figures out a way to gently coax it out from under Johnson's house.
