Key Takeaways
- A 550-pound male black bear, known as Yellow 2120, has been living under a home in Altadena, California, for over a month.
- Biologists from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife set a trap to capture the bear, but it was triggered by a different bear.
- The trapped bear was tagged and released in a nearby habitat, while Yellow 2120 remains under the home.
- The homeowner, Ken Johnson, has tried various methods to flush the bear out, but none have been successful.
- The bear’s presence has caused significant disruption to Johnson’s life, and he is concerned about the safety and integrity of his home.
Introduction to the Problem
A bear trap set at Ken Johnson’s house in Altadena, California, was sprung, but unfortunately, it caught the wrong bear. The trap was set by biologists from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, who have been trying to capture a 550-pound male black bear that has been living under Johnson’s home for over a month. The bear, known as Yellow 2120, managed to squeeze itself into a small opening underneath the house and has been refusing to come out.
The Failed Attempt
The biologists had been trying to capture Yellow 2120 using caramel- and cherry-flavored bait and noisemakers, but their efforts were unsuccessful. However, on December 16, the trap was triggered, and a bear was caught. Unfortunately, it was not Yellow 2120, but another bear that had wandered into the area. The trapped bear was tagged and released in a nearby suitable habitat, while Yellow 2120 remains under the house. Johnson, who has been monitoring the situation closely, knew that the trapped bear was not the one he was looking for, as he has cameras set up to keep an eye on the bear under his house.
The Prevalence of Bear Visits
Visits from bears are not uncommon in Altadena, which is situated at the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. Johnson and his neighbors regularly see bears, especially on trash day. In fact, a few weeks ago, a different bear poked its head down into the crawl space and was scared off by Yellow 2120. Johnson has tried various methods to flush the bear out, including jury-rigging a burglar alarm with foam to make a loud clattering sound and burning CDs with hours of dog barking audio to scare the bear away. However, none of these methods have been successful.
The Homeowner’s Concerns
The presence of the bear under his house has caused significant disruption to Johnson’s life. He has expressed concerns about the safety and integrity of his home, and he is worried about the potential damage that the bear could cause. Johnson has also mentioned that he feels uncomfortable in his own home, knowing that the bear is living under his house. The bear’s presence has also caused practical problems, such as the bear turning on a gas line under the house, which Johnson had to turn off, leaving him without hot water.
The Bear’s Behavior
Yellow 2120 seems to be exercising his "tenant’s rights" under the house, and his behavior has been unpredictable. The bear has been moving around under the house, causing noise and disturbance, and Johnson has even reported hearing the bear growl at him through a vent on the floor of the living room. The recent rainstorm over the holiday period was hoped to wash away any human smells that might be deterring the bear from leaving, but it seemed to have the opposite effect, agitating the bear and causing it to move around more. Johnson has described the situation as a "roller coaster" and is eagerly waiting for a resolution to the problem.
The Department’s Next Steps
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has removed the trap from Johnson’s house, as they believe that Yellow 2120 will not fall for the same trick twice. The department has recognized Yellow 2120 as a bear that was previously trapped and relocated near Altadena, but it seems that the bear has returned to the area. The department will likely need to come up with a new plan to capture the bear and relocate it to a more suitable habitat. In the meantime, Johnson will have to continue living with the knowledge that a large and unpredictable bear is living under his house.