The 500-pound black bear has moved in and out for days as the homeowner seeks help from state wildlife officials.
ALTADENA, Calif. — A Southern California homeowner found a massive black bear living in the crawl space under his house last week and says the animal keeps returning, turning the tight area into a winter den despite calls for help.
Ken Johnson, a 63-year-old product photographer in the foothill community north of Los Angeles, said he first suspected an animal in early summer and later captured clear video of a large bear squeezing through a small opening beneath his home. The bear has visited repeatedly over the past week, rifling through trash and slipping back under the floorboards. Johnson reported the situation to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, which has acknowledged the case but has not yet scheduled a removal. The discovery comes as the region sees more bear sightings near neighborhoods that border the San Gabriel Mountains.
Johnson said his suspicions began months ago when bricks shifted and a wooden frame near the hatch broke. He installed a camera in June and saw occasional wildlife, but the situation escalated around Thanksgiving when the bear appeared on video entering the crawl space. On Nov. 28, Johnson said he briefly came face to face with the animal while changing camera batteries. “It’s huge. It looked at me like it owned the place,” Johnson said. He estimates the bear weighs about 500 pounds and noted a yellow tag on one ear. Since then, the animal has been “in and out all week,” as Johnson has tried sandbags and boards to slow its returns without blocking utilities that run through the space.
Neighbors have traded updates as clips from Johnson’s cameras circulated on group chats. Some residents nicknamed the animal “Barry,” while others joked about “Ursa,” but Johnson said living above a denning bear is no joke. The bear’s movements have left trash scattered across his driveway and scuffed siding near the hatch. State biologists believe it is an American black bear, the species common in California despite the brown fur that sometimes appears on individuals. Officials say bears take advantage of sheltered spaces when natural dens are scarce. Johnson said he filed an online report that flagged property damage and requested an on-site assessment; he is still waiting to hear when officers can respond.
Altadena sits along the edge of the Angeles National Forest, where recent wildfire scars and drought-stressed vegetation have pushed wildlife toward neighborhoods. Earlier this year, crews dealt with several bear calls in foothill towns when large animals sought shelter in garages, under decks and, in at least one past case, a different crawl space. The seasonal pattern typically intensifies in late fall as bears seek quiet, dry places to spend long periods of inactivity. Johnson said he had secured pet food and brought trash out only on pickup day, but the bear still returned to the same shaded corner beneath his living room.
As of Tuesday, the case remained in the assessment stage with state wildlife personnel prioritizing multiple calls across the region. If officers determine the bear is habituated and poses a risk, they can attempt to haze it away with nonlethal tools, close the entry point once the space is clear, or, if necessary, tranquilize and relocate the animal. Any removal would require planning around utility lines under the house and enough staff to keep the bear and responders safe. Johnson said he hopes for a resolution before heavier winter storms arrive, but he understands officials must balance public safety, animal welfare and the agency’s workload.
On the street Monday evening, porch lights clicked on as neighbors swapped stories. A delivery driver paused at Johnson’s address and peered toward the crawl-space hatch before leaving a package atop the gate. “We’re keeping our distance and watching,” said neighbor Alicia Ramirez, who walks her dog at dusk. “You hear a thump or a huff, and everybody looks at that corner.” Johnson, standing near a stack of sandbags, exhaled. “I love living by the mountains,” he said, “just not with a bear under my living room.”
As of late Tuesday, the bear had last been seen retreating from Johnson’s driveway and slipping under the house after midnight. Johnson said he plans to keep his cameras rolling while he waits for a site visit from state wildlife officials later this week.
Author note: Last updated December 2, 2025.