Altadena Homeowner Deals with Bear Intruder in Crawl Space

Bear Occupies Home Crawl Space

• 🐻 An Altadena homeowner, Ken Johnson, is experiencing an unusual situation with a bear living in his crawl space.
• 📹 New surveillance footage captured a second bear appearing overnight, attempting to enter the crawl space but being scared off by the resident bear.

Wildlife Department Response

• 📞 Ken Johnson has contacted the Department of Fish and Wildlife, who have provided suggestions for driving the bear out.
• 💡 The department advised using ammonia through the vents as a potential deterrent.
• 🚫 They also explained that tranquilizing and relocating the bear is not a sustainable or effective solution they typically employ.

Homeowner's Concerns and Strategies

• 🏠 Johnson is concerned about how to prevent the bear from re-entering once it leaves the crawl space.
• 🔊 He notes that the bear's movements can be felt and heard, describing it as the bear rubbing its back against the floorboards.
• 😟 There is a fear that the bear could cause damage to the home's structure or potentially harm someone if it encounters a crowd upon exiting.

Public and Wildlife Interaction

• 🚶‍♂️ The homeowner's situation has attracted curious onlookers to his property, which he believes may be keeping the bear hidden due to fear of the crowds.
• 🌲 Johnson, who grew up in the area, has seen wildlife before but notes an increase in bear sightings since around 2017, possibly linked to a drought.
• 🤔 While finding the bear cute at times, he emphasizes the potential danger it poses to people and property.