Massive 500-Pound Black Bear Takes Up Residence Under Altadena Home

Uninvited Resident in Altadena

• 🐻 A homeowner in Altadena discovered a 500-pound male black bear has taken up residence in the crawl space beneath his house.
• 🏠 The bear initially tore open a screen door to access the 2x1 crawl space, seeking a warm and closed space.

Homeowner's Attempts to Deter Bear

• 🔊 The homeowner, Ken Johnson, tried various methods to encourage the bear to leave, including running the washing machine on a spin cycle, using a sidewalk blower, and playing loud music.
• 🚫 Despite these efforts, the bear has remained comfortable and shows no immediate signs of leaving.

Second Bear Encounter

• 🐾 A second bear apparently visited the property around 2 AM, attracted by the same crawl space, but backed off upon seeing the first bear already occupying the space.

Wildlife Expert Advice

• ⚠️ Wildlife experts advise that while homeowners can take steps to prevent bears from entering their homes, there's not much that can be done to coax a bear out once it has settled in a space it perceives as safe.
• 🚫 Intervention by California Fish and Wildlife is unlikely unless the bear poses a direct threat to people or causes significant damage, such as breaking gas or water lines.

Future Prevention and Waiting Game

• 🧹 Homeowners are advised to remove anything that might attract bears in the future and to close up crawl spaces to prevent similar situations.
• ⏳ For now, the situation is a waiting game, with the homeowner hoping the bear will eventually leave on its own.