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Bear evicted after month-long home invasion
9 Jan
Summary
- A 550-pound bear lived under a home for over a month.
- State officials failed to remove the bear; a nonprofit succeeded.
- The bear's removal was followed by damage assessment and repairs.
A persistent 550-pound black bear that had taken up residence in a crawlspace beneath an Altadena home just before Thanksgiving has been successfully removed. The homeowner, Ken Johnson, endured over a month of disturbances and odors before the bear's eviction. Initial efforts by state wildlife officials, including paintball guns and air horns, proved ineffective.
Following the stalled state intervention, a nonprofit called the BEAR League stepped in to assist at no cost. Their team employed similar tactics, utilizing paintball guns, and managed to remove the bear swiftly within approximately ten minutes. This intervention brought relief to Johnson, who had expressed frustration with the situation and threatened legal action.
After its removal, the bear briefly returned but was deterred by an electrified mat placed over the crawlspace opening. Johnson can now proceed with assessing and repairing the considerable damage caused by the bear, which notably includes a ruptured gas line. The homeowner expressed gratitude for the resolution, likening the bear's departure to a "late Christmas gift."
