550-Pound Black Bear Continues to Elude Capture Under California Home
ALTADENA, Calif. — A 550-pound male black bear has been living under a home in Altadena for over a month, despite repeated efforts by wildlife officials and the homeowner to remove it. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has conducted multiple operations to safely capture and relocate the bear, but the animal continues to elude capture and return to the crawlspace beneath the residence.
Surveillance video shows the large bear squeezing itself in and out of the small crawlspace under homeowner Ken Johnson’s house since late November. The bear’s persistent presence has prompted a series of removal attempts, including the use of baited traps, noisemakers, and hazing techniques. On December 9, CDFW set a bear trap to capture the animal, but the trap mistakenly caught a different bear, which was tagged and released in a nearby suitable habitat.
“CDFW biologists have set up traps with bait, installed cameras and lights for remote monitoring, and worked repeatedly to haze the bear from this property,” the agency told Fox News Digital. They emphasized the importance of securing the crawlspace to prevent the bear’s return, advising the homeowner on hazing methodologies and monitoring strategies to encourage the bear to find more appropriate habitat.
Johnson has taken additional measures on his own, including creating a loud makeshift alarm and playing dog-barking sounds through speakers aimed into the vents, but these efforts have not succeeded in deterring the bear. The situation remains unresolved as the bear continues to occupy the crawlspace.
Bear sightings are common in Altadena, located at the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, an area known for its proximity to wildlife habitats. The CDFW’s ongoing involvement highlights the challenges of managing human-wildlife interactions in suburban areas.
Residents interested in learning more about living safely near wildlife can consult resources from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. For general guidance on bear encounters and safety tips, the National Park Service offers comprehensive advice. Additionally, the U.S. Forest Service provides information on coexistence with bears in forested regions.
As the new year approaches, wildlife officials and the homeowner continue to coordinate efforts to resolve the unusual situation, aiming to ensure both human safety and the well-being of the bear. The ongoing case underscores the complexities of wildlife management in rapidly developing areas near natural habitats.
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