Overview
- Homeowner Ken Johnson’s cameras show a roughly 500‑pound black bear using his Altadena home’s crawlspace as a den, typically leaving by day and returning at night.
- Johnson reported a close encounter on Nov. 28 when the bear growled from beneath the house, and he was directed by deputies to contact the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
- CDFW spokesperson Cort Klopping said field teams are handling other bear cases and expect to evaluate Johnson’s situation soon, confirming the yellow ear tag indicates state jurisdiction.
- A second bear was recorded visiting the property around 2 a.m. Tuesday before turning away, according to video shared with ABC7.
- Residents and reporters cite wildlife displacement after the Eaton Fire earlier this year, and CDFW urges removing attractants and sealing crawlspace access; similar local cases previously led to bear capture and relocation.