CRBC News
Politics
Conflict
Security
Economy
Science
Technology
Environment
Health
Culture
Society
Lifestyle
Society

California Homeowner Finds 'Big, Ferocious' Bear Living in Tiny Crawl Space After Nearby Fire

03:09 AM, 12/02/2025
California Homeowner Finds 'Big, Ferocious' Bear Living in Tiny Crawl Space After Nearby Fire

Altadena homeowner Kenneth Johnson found that a large bear had been living in a tiny crawl space beneath his house after noticing structural damage in February 2025, a month after the Eaton fire. Motion-camera footage captured the bear regularly passing the home and, in November, squeezing into the crawl space; a yellow ear tag is visible in the video. Johnson had a close encounter on Nov. 28 while changing the camera batteries and has contacted the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to request removal and relocation. He hopes the bear can be evicted before the holidays.

Altadena resident Kenneth Johnson discovered that a large bear had been using a small crawl space beneath his home as shelter for months. The animal began appearing in February 2025, roughly a month after the Eaton fire passed through the area. Johnson first noticed moved bricks and a broken wooden frame around the crawl-space entrance, and more damage appeared in June.

Camera Footage Reveals the Intruder

Johnson installed a motion camera in his yard to identify what was causing the damage. Footage taken in the following months showed a burly bear regularly passing the house, and in November the camera captured the animal squeezing into the tiny opening. The video shows the bear using its front paws to lift itself out of the crawl space and a yellow tag visible on its left ear.

Owner's Close Encounter

The 63-year-old homeowner says he had a frightening close call on Nov. 28 while changing the camera's batteries. "I glanced at the hole, heard a growl and a hiss, and I ran," Johnson recalled. "I was shaking like a leaf for half an hour." He added that even his cat, Boo, seems unsettled by the animal's presence.

Behavior and Next Steps

Johnson's camera suggests the bear leaves the crawl space during the day—likely to forage—and returns at night. State wildlife officials note that black bears are the only wild bear species native to California, though the footage did not definitively identify this individual. The yellow ear tag could indicate a previously handled or monitored animal.

Johnson has contacted the California Department of Fish and Wildlife seeking assistance to remove and relocate the bear to a more remote area. He has tried to keep a lighthearted perspective—mulling over the names "Ursa" or "Barry"—but says he hopes wildlife authorities will evict the bear before the holidays. "I don't need a bear for Christmas," he said. "I want to get rid of the bear for Christmas."

Note: Officials had not provided a public comment at the time of reporting. Residents who encounter a bear should avoid approaching it, secure attractants such as pet food and garbage, and contact local wildlife authorities for guidance.

Similar Articles

Trending

California Homeowner Finds 'Big, Ferocious' Bear Living in Tiny Crawl Space After Nearby Fire - CRBC News