The saga of a giant black bear living 'rent-free' beneath a California home has taken a new twist, sparking concerns that such incidents are becoming a trend rather than a one-off event.
From One Crawlspace to Another
In late November 2025, a 550lb black bear took up residence in the crawlspace beneath Kenneth Johnson's home in Altadena, California. For weeks, the state's Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) attempted to trap the animal without success.
The standoff finally ended on 3 December 2025, when volunteers from the Bear League, a Lake Tahoe-based non-profit, used paintball guns to force the massive bear out of its hiding spot. "Boom, he's out," was the triumphant report following the successful operation.
A Potential Pattern Emerges
However, the relief was short-lived. By the following week, local news outlet KTLA reported that a resident living just half a mile from Johnson's home had provided photos of a bear under their property. By Tuesday, the outlet reported that a bear, believed by some to be the same animal, had sought shelter under yet another house in the Altadena community.
Officials, however, are cautious. The bear removed from Johnson's home was tagged by the DFW as Yellow 2120. It remains unclear if this is the same individual seen at the other properties. "It's such a prevalent area for bear activity that this very well could be a different bear," said Cort Klopping, a DFW information officer.
Living in 'Harmony' with Wildlife
The Bear League, whose mission is to help humans coexist with bears, has been actively assisting Altadena residents. Their efforts include installing electrical mats designed to deter the animals from settling under homes. "We are grateful to have been able to help the bear and the residents and hope we can continue to do so," the organisation stated.
This is not an isolated issue for the group. They receive several calls a day from people in the Lake Tahoe region reporting bears under their homes. In these areas, bears are a common sight and often break into cars or properties in search of food, prompting ongoing campaigns for residents to secure trash and food sources.
California is home to an estimated 49,000 to 71,000 black bears, the only bear species in the state. Primarily found between the north coast and the Sierra Nevada, these animals are generally non-confrontational. In recorded history, black bears have been responsible for just one human fatality in California.
The recent events in Altadena highlight the ongoing challenges of urban-wildlife interface, suggesting that the phenomenon of bears seeking shelter in suburban crawlspaces may be on the rise.
