California Homeowner Claims 550-Pound Black Bear is Occupying His Crawlspace

A homeowner in Altadena, California, says he has been living with a terrifying and destructive houseguest for over a month: a 550-pound black bear residing in the crawl space under his home.

Ken Johnson, 63, told local media the bear’s noises are unnerving, comparing the sound to that of a dragon. The bear’s presence has also caused property damage, including to a gas line, which forced Johnson to shut off the gas supply. He expressed growing concern that the longer the bear stays, the more comfortable and entrenched it will become.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) confirmed it has been working with Johnson since the bear was first reported entering the unsecured crawlspace in November. Biologists have set traps, installed monitoring cameras and lights, and attempted to haze the bear off the property. The agency states that while thousands of black bears are spotted in California annually, the threat to residents is generally low, with the statewide population estimated between 49,000 and 71,000.

Wildlife groups like The BEAR League advise homeowners to secure crawl spaces, especially in winter, to prevent bears from settling in and causing significant damage.