Altadena Homeowner Plans Lawsuit Over Bear Under House

Bear Infestation and Property Damage

• 🐻 A homeowner in Altadena is at his breaking point due to a 500-pound black bear that has been living under his house for over a month.
• 🛠️ The bear has caused significant damage to the home's pipes, forcing the homeowner to shut off his gas and live without hot water since Christmas Eve.
• 📹 Cameras have captured the bear bulldozing through property and shredding plastic underneath the house.

Failed Wildlife Agency Intervention

• 🎣 The California Department of Fish and Wildlife initially set a trap, but it caught a smaller bear instead of the one under the house.
• 📣 Biologists attempted to use air horns to flush the bear out, but were ordered to stand down, leaving the homeowner to manage the situation.
• 🚫 The agency has since stopped actively trying to remove the bear, stating they will no longer assist.

Homeowner's Legal Action

• ⚖️ The homeowner plans to sue the Department of Fish and Wildlife, accusing them of negligence and causing emotional distress.
• 📜 A legal analyst suggests the homeowner may have grounds for a lawsuit, as the department has a duty to protect homeowners from public safety threats.
• 📄 While the outcome of the lawsuit is uncertain, a court order to remove the bear is considered a likely possibility if the homeowner wins.

Ongoing Monitoring and Agency Policy

• 📍 The Department of Fish and Wildlife has a 19-page policy for dealing with such situations, but the homeowner believes the agency has not followed it by giving up.
• 📡 While cameras are still set up to monitor the bear's activity, the department has ceased efforts to trap or remove the animal.