A peculiar saga in Altadena, California, has finally come to an end. A 550-pound black bear, which had taken refuge under homeowner Ken Johnson’s house, has been evicted after 37 days as an unwelcome tenant. Reports reveal that the homeowner’s life had been upended by this massive squatter, particularly during the holiday season.
Johnson’s ordeal began when he noticed signs of disturbance around his property. Items were knocked over and damaged, leading him to suspect that something was amiss beneath his home. Frustrated with California authorities for their inability to act, Johnson sought assistance from The Bear League, a group renowned for bear removal emergencies. “We heard about Ken, we felt bad for him and flew down and got the bear out,” said Ann Bryant, the organization’s founder and executive director. This response indicates a proactive commitment to community assistance often missing in state intervention.
The actual removal of the bear was nothing short of dramatic. With paintballs in hand, The Bear League’s crew took action, firing shots into the crawl space where the bear had made its den. “The bear was gone in 20 minutes,” Bryant noted. This swift eviction method serves as a reminder of the lengths residents sometimes have to go to reclaim their homes from wildlife encroachment.
In the wake of the bear’s departure, Johnson quickly fortified the area, employing plywood and sandbags to seal off the crawl space. To ensure that the bear doesn’t return, the League also installed an electric mat designed to deliver a light shock if stepped on. This speaks to the lengths homeowners will take to safeguard their properties from uninvited wildlife guests.
Unfortunately, there’s an underlying frustration with government agencies that have not met the needs of the public efficiently. Johnson’s case exemplifies a larger issue with wildlife management and how citizens often feel compelled to seek help outside official channels. The Bear League claims to handle between six and eight bear extractions a day, suggesting a growing need for more efficient and responsive wildlife removal strategies in urban areas.
The story of this bear not only captures the strangeness of the situation but also highlights the challenges homeowners face in areas where wildlife and human habitats intersect. As cities expand into natural territories, the consequences of this overlap will likely create more scenarios that test the patience and resolve of residents. Johnson’s experience is a testament to the resilience and ingenuity required to address such unexpected trials.
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