At a Glance
- A 500-pound black bear has taken up residence in the crawlspace of an Altadena home.
- Biologists captured a different bear on Tuesday, processed it, and released it Wednesday.
- The homeowner, Ken Johnson, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife are still trying to coax the crawlspace bear out.
- Why it matters: The incident highlights the growing overlap between wildlife and suburban homes and the challenges of safely managing such encounters.
The 500-pound black bear that has made itself comfortable in the crawlspace of an Altadena home has become a local headline, as biologists capture a different bear and work to retrieve the one that slipped into the homeowner’s house.
The Capture
Biologists with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife set up a trap outside Ken Johnson‘s house, but they inadvertently caught a different bear on Tuesday. The bear was processed, tagged, and released to a nearby suitable habitat Wednesday afternoon.
The Crawlspace Bear
The race to capture the fuzzy squatter began last month after Ken Johnson noticed items on his property being moved around. After installing a camera on the side of his house, the homeowner saw a black bear roaming through his property and saw his crawlspace’s screen ripped open.
Ken Johnson stated:
> “When I saw it all torn up, I thought, ‘He must not be under there,’ because there is no way a bear could fit.”
With some tenacity and a bit of a squeeze, the bear managed to wedge itself into Ken Johnson‘s crawlspace and has made itself comfortable in there since. Occasionally, the 500-pound animal has been seen leaving the crawlspace but it always returns.
Current Efforts
The department’s statement said that biologists attempted to use hazing techniques to draw the bear out from the crawlspace, but the bear did not come out. They have continued to stay in close contact with the homeowner through this process and will continue to do so.
California Department of Fish and Wildlife said:
> “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.”
California Department of Fish and Wildlife added:
> “Our biologists have continued to stay in close contact with the homeowner through this process and will continue to do so.”
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | Biologists captured a bear (not the crawlspace bear) |
| Wednesday | Bear processed, tagged, and released |
| Current | Biologists attempting hazing; ongoing contact with homeowner |
Key Takeaways
- A 500-pound black bear is living in Ken Johnson‘s crawlspace.
- Biologists captured a different bear and released it after tagging.
- Efforts to coax the crawlspace bear out are ongoing.
The situation underscores the challenges of wildlife encounters in suburban settings, as authorities work to resolve the issue safely for both the bear and the homeowner.
