A homeowner in California received the shock of his life after discovering an enormous brown bear had taken up residence in the crawl space beneath his property.
The Unsettling Discovery
Kenneth Johnson, 63, first grew suspicious in April when he noticed damaged bricks and a broken wooden frame around the access to the space under his Altadena home. After spotting further damage, he decided to install a surveillance camera in June. However, it was not until last week that the camera revealed the terrifying truth: a massive bear had claimed the area as its den.
"I don't know how it got under there. It must be a contortionist," Johnson told the Los Angeles Times, expressing amazement at how the large animal could fit into the confined space. He described the bear as so large that "its stomach touches the ground."
A Close Encounter
The situation became frighteningly real for Johnson on Friday. While he was replacing the camera's batteries, the bear growled at him from inside the crawl space. "I was shaking like a leaf for half an hour," he admitted. He immediately contacted the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, who directed him to the California Department of Fish & Wildlife.
Due to the holiday weekend, Johnson was informed he would have to wait until Monday for an official response. This left him feeling uneasy in his own home. "It's uncomfortable walking into the kitchen thinking there's a bear over there," he said.
Life with an Unwanted Housemate
Camera footage showed the bear, which has a distinctive yellow tag in its left ear, struggling to emerge from the tight space. The animal has been seen leaving during the day, likely to forage for food, and returning at night. Johnson's cat, Boo, is reportedly terrified of the creature living below them.
While the bear has shown no signs of aggression and has been spotted by neighbours roaming the area, Johnson is keeping a safe distance. He last saw the animal around 6 a.m. on Saturday and noted it "hasn't left since." Awaiting confirmation of the bear's sex, he has two potential names in mind: Ursa or Barry.
Johnson, no stranger to local wildlife, recalled his father once finding an eight-foot boa constrictor in their garage refrigerator. He noted that wildlife encounters in Altadena have changed. "We're used to seeing wildlife in Altadena, but it's changed because of drought and fire," he stated, referencing a recent incident where a 500-pound bear, displaced by the Eaton fire, was found under a home in nearby Pasadena.
Despite a degree of acceptance—"I feel okay with it," he said—Johnson's ultimate wish is clear: "But I want him to get out."
