Residents of a quiet Californian neighbourhood have finally seen the back of an enormous and unwelcome tenant – a 550lb black bear that had taken up residence beneath a family home for more than a month.
The Unwanted Houseguest
Ken Johnson, a resident of Altadena in southern California, first became aware of his new neighbour in late November 2025. The massive bear had settled into the crawl space under his property, leading Johnson to famously tell the Orange County Register that the animal was "a nuisance and he's living under my house rent-free."
Johnson promptly contacted California's Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW). The agency's attempts to trap the bear, which they had previously tagged as number 2120, were unsuccessful. In a twist, they managed to capture a smaller bear instead, leaving the 550lb behemoth undisturbed. After weeks of frustration, Johnson reportedly threatened to sue the DFW for negligence and emotional distress.
"If I kept track of everything I tried, it would be Bear: 14, Homeowner: 0," Johnson lamented to local news outlet KTLA, summarising the protracted battle.
A Community-Wide Wildlife Issue
This was not the first time Bear 2120 had sought shelter in a human habitat. Officials had previously relocated him from another area home, moving him roughly ten miles away. The situation in Altadena is part of a broader pattern of increased human-wildlife interaction.
The problem intensified after the Eaton wildfire ravaged the Angeles National Forest and parts of Altadena in January 2025. The blaze displaced numerous animals, including several black bears, pushing them into the community in search of refuge. In the immediate aftermath, at least two other bears weighing over 500lb were found in homes evacuated during the fire.
California is home to an estimated 49,000 to 71,000 black bears, the state's only bear species. Historically non-confrontational, they have been responsible for only one recorded human fatality in the state.
The Final Eviction
The stalemate was broken on Tuesday, 1 December 2025, when a non-profit organisation called the Bear League intervened. Specialists from the Lake Tahoe-based group used paintball guns to drive the bear from its subterranean den.
"I couldn't believe it was so fast," Johnson told KTLA. "These guys went in, they crawled in behind him and, boom, he was out."
The bear's departure was not the end of the story. It attempted to return two days later but was thwarted by an electrified mat placed over the entrance to the crawl space. With the property finally bear-free, Johnson was able to assess the extent of the damage, which included a ruptured gas line.
The unusual and lengthy ordeal highlights the ongoing challenges of managing wildlife in areas where urban and natural environments increasingly overlap.
