A 550lb black bear that had been living 'rent-free' under a home in Altadena, southern California, for more than a month has finally been removed, according to local reports. The bear, identified as number 2120 by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW), was driven out using paintball guns and an electrified mat.
Homeowner Ken Johnson first noticed the bear in the crawl space beneath his house in late November. Despite multiple attempts by the DFW to trap the animal, they only managed to catch a smaller bear, leaving the larger one in place. Frustrated, Johnson threatened to sue the DFW for negligence and emotional distress.
The bear had previously taken refuge under another home in the area before being relocated about 10 miles away. Wildlife experts believe the Eaton wildfire, which tore through the Angeles National Forest in January, may have driven bears like 2120 into residential areas. At least two other bears weighing over 500lbs sought shelter in evacuated homes after the fire.
On Tuesday, the non-profit Bear League from Lake Tahoe intervened. Members crawled under the house and shot at the bear with paintball guns, successfully driving it out. 'I couldn't believe it was so fast,' Johnson said. 'These guys went in, they crawled in behind him and, boom, he was out.'
The bear attempted to return two days later but was deterred by an electrified mat placed at the entrance to the crawl space. Johnson has since assessed the damage, which includes a ruptured gas line. Black bears are the only bear species in California, with an estimated population of 49,000 to 71,000, and are generally non-confrontational.
