Ursine Fatso Takes Over California Home

A 550-pound black bear has been living under a house in Altadena, California for over a month, much to the dismay of a terrified homeowner. Ken Johnson says he might sue the state’s Department of Fish and Wildlife, which he claims hasn’t done enough to remove the big beast.

It all started during Thanksgiving week, when Johnson caught the bear on security camera footage stomping around his property and squeezing its considerable girth into a small crawlspace under the house. Johnson alerted CDFW, which set up more cameras and tried to lure the bear out.

The department set a baited trap – a cage sprayed with enticing scents (cherry and caramel). This ploy did catch a black bear on December 16, but it turned out to be a different bear! The original trespasser continued to make camp in the crawlspace, shredding plastic stored under the house. 

“I thought this would be over by now,” Johnson told CBS News at the end of the month. He tried piping audio of a dog barking under the house, but that didn’t dissuade the bear. The CDFW blasted the space with air horns, which did remove the bear initially. Then it returned.

There have been more bear sightings this year in the area, according to neighbors. It is believed that last year’s fires in Southern California have driven wildlife from their own homes, so more encounters like these are inevitable.

Johnson is worried the bear could eventually burst up through his living room floor. “People talk about feeling humbled. This is very humbling. There's a bear under my house, and there's nothing I can do about it!”

The CDFW says the best tactic is to securely seal the entrance to the crawlspace – if it can be done when the bear is off-site. Johnson might have to wait until winter’s over.

Photo credit: Ken Johnson