Why is a bear living in an Altadena man's crawl space?

The bear has been tagged and released in the area before, suggesting it considers the location familiar territory.

What are California Department of Fish and Wildlife doing about the bear?

CDFW is monitoring the 550-pound bear with cameras and using a strong-scented lure to encourage it to leave the crawl space.

How can homeowners deter bears from their property in Altadena?

CDFW recommends using ammonia-soaked rags around crawl spaces if a bear vacates to prevent its return.

Home / Environment / Bear Camps in Altadena Home's Crawl Space

Bear Camps in Altadena Home's Crawl Space

5 Dec, 2025

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Summary

A 550-pound bear has been living in an Altadena home's crawl space for over a week.
Wildlife officials are using a lure to encourage the bear to leave its current habitat.
The bear was previously tagged and released about ten miles away in Angeles National Forest.

Bear Camps in Altadena Home's Crawl Space

Biologists with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife are actively monitoring a 550-pound bear that has been sheltering in an Altadena resident's crawl space for more than a week. This is not the first encounter, as wildlife officials had previously tagged and released the animal about ten miles away in the Angeles National Forest.

Despite relocation efforts, the bear appears to consider the area its home. Authorities are using a specially designed lure with a strong scent in the backyard to entice the bear to exit the crawl space voluntarily. Cameras have been installed to allow off-site teams to observe the bear's behavior and react accordingly.

Relocating such a large animal from tight quarters presents challenges, compounded by curious onlookers. If the bear does leave, the homeowner has been advised to use ammonia-soaked rags around the crawl space to deter its return. The current strategy prioritizes the bear leaving on its own accord.