A large bear was filmed sheltering in the crawl space beneath an Altadena home, prompting neighbors to board up openings and take precautions. The sighting follows a separate 37-day episode at another house, where the homeowner threatened legal action after delayed removal. A mid-December trap accidentally captured the wrong bear, which was released, and BEAR League reported removing an animal on Jan. 6 after it damaged heating ducts. The events highlight the difficulties of safely managing large wildlife in suburban neighborhoods.
Huge Bear Filmed Living in Crawl Space Beneath Altadena Home; Neighbors Take Precautions
Gettystock image of a California grizzly bear
A Southern California neighborhood has been unsettled by repeated bear sightings after a large bear was filmed sheltering in the crawl space beneath an Altadena home, a resident told KTLA on Jan. 12.
The homeowner, who asked to remain anonymous and declined to give a precise address, said the animal had likely been under the house for four to five days. He lives less than half a mile from another property where a bear reportedly sheltered beneath the floor for six weeks.
Video shared with the station shows the resident easing beneath his house and using a flashlight to illuminate the resting wild animal from a safe distance. Neighbors reacted with a mixture of concern and bemusement.
“They need to close up the crawl space,” said Deborah Wilson, a nearby resident, during an on-camera interview. “If the bear doesn’t get you, something will. So you better close up.”
The sighting follows a prolonged episode at another Altadena residence. In December 2025, homeowner Kenneth Johnson said a tagged bear lived under his house for 37 days and that the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) did not remove it quickly enough — prompting him to threaten legal action. Johnson described shutting off his gas service before Christmas to prevent damage to utility lines and installing cameras after discovering his crawl space entrance torn apart.
In mid-December, wildlife officials set a trap but unintentionally captured a different bear; that animal was later released into a suitable nearby habitat, a CDFW spokesperson told PEOPLE. Johnson and others estimated the bear seen under homes weighed roughly 500–550 pounds, leading many to question how such a large animal could fit beneath a residence.
On Jan. 6, nonprofit BEAR League reported it had removed an animal after it caused extensive damage to a home’s heating ducts, according to the group’s Facebook post. Wildlife groups and local agencies say removing large wild animals from suburban neighborhoods can be complicated: bears are strong, can be difficult to tranquilize safely if very large, and sometimes return to familiar shelter or food sources.
Community Response
Neighbors say seeing wildlife — including bears and coyotes — is not unusual in the area, and many have taken precautions such as sealing crawl spaces and securing trash to deter animals. Local officials and wildlife advocates urge residents to keep a safe distance, avoid confronting the animals, and report sightings to authorities so trained responders can act.
The episode underscores the challenges communities and wildlife agencies face when large wild animals wander into suburban areas seeking shelter in unexpected places.
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