The bear that moved into a home’s crawlspace more than a week ago in Altadena is not budging: despite numerous attempts by the homeowners to keep him out, the animal is staying put.
Ken Johnson, the homeowner, said Monday that the bear has been growling and hissing, terrifying him and his cat.
“I feel nervous all the time,” Johnson said. “I’m always looking over my shoulder to see if he’s coming out.”
Johnson first told NBC Los Angeles last week that the bear had history of frequenting his house, but now, the animal seems to have found a place to call home despite pipes, air ducts and dirt in the narrow crawlspace at the home on North Altadena Drive.
Johnson said even when the bear isn’t inside the house, it’s hard not to notice its presence.
“The cat was sniffing around the vent that comes up in the kitchen because he’s right underneath there,” the human resident said. “Last night, (I heard) all this banging around underneath the ground. The next thing he knows, he’s on the camera again, coming out.”
Johnson said the unwanted roommate destroyed his trash can as well.
The bear, which is ear-tagged, is known to officials with the Department of California Fish and Wildlife is a male, weight up to 550 pounds.
Although wildlife experts recommend having a barrier around the house to keep bears and other animals out, Johnson said the trick didn’t work for him.
“This brick lining is here, and it weighs like 30 pounds,” Johnson explained, showing the torn-down fence. “This thing is digging into my house, destroying property and living rent free.”
The Department of California Fish and Wildlife said those who live in the foothill areas should remove anything attractive to bears, such as pet food and remnants of food on a grill.
“If you have fruit trees around your home, removing any fruit that has fallen is a good idea,” said Cort Klopping, a spokesperson for the state agency. “Bird feeders, believe it or not, are attractants to bears.”
People who spot a bear are urged to file a wildlife incident report on the department’s website while covering up access to the home when the bear is not there. (Johnson has filed reports and tried to block home access to no avail.)