Additional Coverage:
Altadena, CA – An Altadena man is at his wit’s end after a colossal 550-pound black bear has taken up residence in his home’s crawl space for over a month, shrugging off all attempts at eviction. Homeowner Ken Johnson is now reportedly mulling over legal options as his furry, uninvited guest continues to make itself comfortable.
“I thought this would be over by now,” a clearly exasperated Johnson shared with CBS News.
Since the Thanksgiving holiday, Johnson’s security cameras have repeatedly captured the massive bear casually strolling across his property before expertly squeezing into the confined space beneath his house. Lacking a canine deterrent, Johnson resorted to playing barking sounds into the crawl space, hoping to spook the bear. His efforts, however, proved futile.
Johnson reports hearing the bear busily clawing and scratching directly beneath him, fueling his anxiety about the possibility of the hefty creature one day bursting through his living room floor.
He has engaged the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, who have installed additional cameras and made multiple, yet unsuccessful, attempts to coax the bear out. Several weeks ago, the department deployed a large metal cage trap, doused with enticing cherry and caramel scents. On December 16th, a bear was indeed found in the trap, but officials confirmed it was not the intended squatter.
The Department of Fish and Wildlife maintains its commitment to assisting Johnson but emphasizes that securing the crawl space after the bear’s departure will be the homeowner’s responsibility. Johnson, on the other hand, expresses concern about potential legal ramifications if he were to take any “drastic action” against what could be considered a protected animal under his home.
“People talk about feeling humbled. This is very humbling,” Johnson remarked. “There’s a bear under my house, and there’s nothing I can do about it!”