Displaced Bear Takes Refuge Under Altadena Home Following 2025 Wildfires

An Altadena, California, homeowner is currently dealing with a black bear utilizing the crawl space beneath his residence as a temporary shelter. This situation follows the severe wildfires that swept through the region in early 2025, which caused significant habitat disruption for wildlife in the Angeles National Forest.

The presence of the bear became apparent when the homeowner, Ken Johnson, 63, recorded video footage showing the animal emerging from under the house on a Tuesday. Johnson had previously installed a camera near the area in June after observing signs of animal damage, but confirmation of the bear's residency only surfaced recently. The situation escalated when Johnson encountered the animal while performing routine maintenance, specifically while changing camera batteries, and reported that the bear growled at him, leading to immediate contact with local authorities.

Neighboring residents have previously identified this specific bear, sometimes referring to it as Barry, and noted its presence in the area, with some speculating that the Eaton Fire, which began on January 7, drove it from its natural habitat in Eaton Canyon. State wildlife officials with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) are aware of the situation; however, field experts were initially occupied with other regional bear incidents, anticipating addressing Mr. Johnson's case soon. The CDFW has indicated that bear sightings and denning in crawl spaces are relatively common in the foothills during this time of year, sometimes requiring responses to up to five such incidents in a single week.

In a related incident earlier in the year, a massive 525-pound male bear was safely removed from an Altadena crawl space after sheltering from the January wildfires; that bear was successfully trapped and relocated to the Angeles National Forest with a GPS tracking collar fitted by the CDFW. While the current bear's size is not specified in the initial report, the homeowner described it as "huge," noting it was as tall as a table. The CDFW has established protocols for large bears in confined spaces; for instance, the 525-pound bear could not be chemically immobilized, necessitating a trap baited with food sourced from Stater Brothers.

The CDFW advises that in foothill areas, securing crawl spaces with bear-proof material before the winter months is crucial to discourage this denning behavior, where bears take extended naps while emerging periodically to feed. Mr. Johnson is currently monitoring the animal, which has been observed coming and going from the under-house space multiple times since Tuesday, and he has reported hearing "clunking and booming" sounds beneath his floorboards. The homeowner has considered unconventional methods, such as luring the bear out with dinner rolls before blocking the entrance with sandbags and pepper spray, while awaiting official intervention. This ongoing situation underscores the necessity of preventative measures, such as securing attractants and eliminating access to potential den sites like crawl spaces, to mitigate future conflicts as human expansion intersects with wildlife territories.