A 500-pound black bear has made itself at home in the crawlspace of a house in Altadena, California, sparking a wildlife rescue effort that saw biologists capture a different bear and release it to nearby habitat.
The Unlikely Resident
Ken Johnson, the homeowner, first noticed odd activity on his property last month when items were moved around. He installed a camera on the side of his house and captured a black bear roaming freely. The next sighting was even more startling: the screen of his crawlspace was ripped open.
“I thought, ‘He must not be under there,’ because there is no way a bear could fit,” Johnson said.
Despite his initial disbelief, the bear proved to be a tenacious animal. With a combination of tenacity and a bit of a squeeze, it managed to wedge itself into the crawlspace and has made itself comfortable there ever since. The bear occasionally leaves the crawlspace but always returns.
The Misguided Capture
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife partnered with Johnson to set up a trap outside the house in hopes of capturing the resident bear. However, biologists inadvertently caught a different bear on Tuesday. “That bear was processed, tagged, and released to a nearby suitable habitat Wednesday afternoon,” the department said in a statement.
The misdirected capture occurred after biologists attempted to use hazing techniques to draw the bear out from the crawlspace, but the bear did not come out. “Our biologists went to the site and attempted to use hazing techniques to draw the bear out from the crawlspace, but the bear did not come out,” the department added.
Ongoing Efforts
Johnson and the department are still working to coax the resident bear out and capture it safely. Biologists continue to stay in close contact with the homeowner through this process and will keep monitoring the situation.
Key Takeaways
- A 500-pound black bear has taken up residence in a crawlspace in Altadena.
- Biologists captured a different bear and released it to nearby habitat.
- Efforts to coax the resident bear out are ongoing, with hazing techniques proving ineffective so far.
The incident highlights the challenges of wildlife encounters in suburban settings and the importance of coordinated wildlife management efforts.
