The situation with a black bear, affectionately dubbed “Bearly,” has stirred quite a bit of discussion.
Last month, a man reached his limit after living with a 550-pound bear beneath his home. He threatened legal action against the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, alleging that they left the bear to fend for itself.
According to sources, this claim isn’t accurate.
Since November 30, Ken Johnson from Altadena, California, has been dealing with this unexpected furry tenant in his crawl space, leading to extensive home damage and sleepless nights.
Johnson is outraged and has indicated he may sue the agency, asserting that they have halted efforts to remove the bear. As he told KTLA, “This has been going on long enough that it needs to be addressed. It’s a tagged bear. We’ve dealt with them before. They chose not to euthanize them, but now they’re back and this is going to continue.”
However, the CDFW has a different perspective.
A spokesperson for the department stated, “Despite very limited staff, CDFW biologists have been in constant contact with this homeowner since the bear was reported to have entered an unsafe living space in November. We remain committed to helping this homeowner and have not indicated otherwise.”
Johnson, when asked for comments, said he preferred to wait until he could secure proper legal counsel.
When the bear first appeared, resources were deployed to the scene, including a cherry and caramel-scented spray meant to lure it out, but that didn’t work. A large trap filled with various treats followed, but ended up capturing another bear that was roaming the neighborhood.
On Christmas Day, the bear finally ventured out from under the house, as captured by nearby footage. It made a brief tour around the property, only to retreat back into its hiding spot shortly after.
It was reported that soon after this sighting, Johnson was informed by the department to stop trying to remove the bear.
Feeling overwhelmed, Johnson expressed his feelings to KTLA, saying, “I felt so defeated. I just felt depressed. Now what? It’s all up to me. If he comes out in the middle of the night, do I have to look at my phone? Or do I sleep in the kitchen every night and listen to his voice?”
The bear’s early morning activities are disruptive—Johnson noted waking up at 5 a.m. and wondering if it was under his bed, admitting he hadn’t slept well. He discovered significant damage in his home on Christmas Eve and had to turn off the gas.
He lamented, “You can’t take a hot shower. You have to constantly monitor the situation.”
The CDFW has reiterated its commitment to assisting Californians facing wildlife encounters that complicate peaceful living.
