The problem under the house
An Altadena homeowner discovered a 550 pound black bear squatting in his crawl space for 37 days, knocking over belongings and making life miserable. Imagine sleeping at night while something that big is nesting under your home. The man reported the damage and tried to get help from local agencies but the intruder refused to leave and Christmas was ruined for the homeowner and his peace of mind.
Officials struggled to evict it
According to local accounts the initial responses from authorities did not get the bear out. Trapping a large wild animal that has made a den under a house is not easy. The homeowner grew frustrated as the days passed and the bear remained. When regular channels failed to provide a fast solution he looked elsewhere for help.
A specialized team stepped in
The homeowner contacted The Bear League, a private group that specializes in bear removals and responds to urgent calls. The group flew in from Lake Tahoe to help. Their founder said members felt sympathy for the homeowner and acted quickly to remove the animal after hearing his story. Private wildlife teams often have tactics and experience that municipal crews may not deploy in complicated settings.
Paintballs and an electric mat did the trick
The team used paintball rounds fired into the crawl space to encourage the bear to leave without injuring it. Within about 20 minutes the bear retreated. The crew also installed an electric mat and the homeowner covered the entry with plywood and sandbags to prevent a return. This approach aimed to move the bear safely while protecting the property.
Where the bear went and what comes next
The bear’s exact whereabouts were not reported after the extraction. The Bear League says they perform several extractions daily. For the homeowner the main task now is securing the property and hoping wildlife officials monitor the area. This case shows private teams can sometimes solve problems when standard responses do not work.
The bear that's been living underneath an Altadena home for almost two months has finally been removed.
The bear's whereabouts remain unknown as of Thursday afternoon. https://t.co/7eFtM1Nz4M pic.twitter.com/VF47KGYOxk
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) January 9, 2026
WE’D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS! PLEASE COMMENT BELOW.
JIMMY
Find more articles like this at steadfastandloyal.com.
