LOS ANGELES — What started as a routine check of mysterious damage around his property turned into an extraordinary wildlife encounter for one Southern California resident. Ken Johnson, 63, recently discovered he’s been sharing his Altadena home with an uninvited guest — a large black bear that has taken up residence in the crawl space beneath his house.
The remarkable discovery came to light last Tuesday when Johnson’s security camera captured footage of the massive bear casually emerging from underneath his home. The 63-year-old homeowner had strategically installed the surveillance equipment back in June after noticing what appeared to be animal-related damage around his property, but he never anticipated capturing something quite this dramatic.
The incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by residents in Southern California’s foothill communities, where expanding urban development continues to intersect with natural wildlife habitats. Black bears, in particular, have become increasingly common visitors to residential areas as they search for food and shelter, especially during seasonal transitions.
For Johnson, what began as a simple investigation into property damage has evolved into an unexpected lesson in wildlife coexistence. The bear’s choice of lodging — the dark, protected space beneath a human dwelling — demonstrates these intelligent animals’ adaptability and their ability to find creative solutions when their natural habitat becomes limited.
Wildlife experts note that such encounters, while startling for homeowners, are becoming more frequent across California’s wildland-urban interface zones. These situations typically require professional intervention to safely relocate the animals while ensuring the safety of both residents and wildlife.
The timing of this discovery is particularly significant, as bears are currently preparing for winter and seeking secure denning sites. Johnson’s crawl space apparently provided the perfect combination of shelter, security, and proximity to potential food sources that the bear was seeking.
This incident serves as a reminder for residents in bear-prone areas to regularly inspect their properties for signs of wildlife activity and to secure potential access points that might attract unwanted animal guests. As urban development continues to expand into traditional wildlife corridors, such unexpected encounters are likely to become an increasingly common part of life in Southern California’s scenic foothill communities.
