A Black Bear's Unwanted House Party: The Eviction Story from Los Angeles
Imagine having an unexpected guest show up at your house, one that weighs over 500 pounds and has been causing quite a ruckus. That's exactly what happened to Ken Johnson, a resident of Altadena, Los Angeles. For over a month, a black bear had made its home in the crawl space beneath his house, causing damage and creating a tense situation for Johnson.
The bear's presence was not only unsettling but also dangerous. It twisted gas lines and toppled bricks as it came and went, as captured by surveillance footage. Johnson's first attempt to evict the bear involved state wildlife officials, who deployed air horns and paintball guns, but to no avail. That's when he turned to BEAR League, a California-based nonprofit dedicated to living in harmony with bears.
The BEAR League team's strategy was unique. One of their most experienced responders crawled beneath the house and positioned themselves behind the bear, encouraging it to leave. Johnson described the moment as a relief, akin to having unexpected dinner guests leave, leaving behind a mess to clean up. The bear was successfully evicted within 20 minutes of the team's arrival.
To prevent the bear from returning, the group placed an 'unwelcome' mat at the opening, which delivered an electric shock. However, the bear returned at least once before moving on, leaving Johnson on edge. He described the situation as 'constant tension' and the damage caused by the bear as extensive, costing thousands of dollars to repair. The bear shredded ductwork and twisted natural gas piping, adding to the challenges Johnson faced.
Johnson has set up a GoFundMe page to repair the damage and make his house livable again. The story highlights the complex relationship between humans and wildlife in urban areas and the innovative approaches needed to resolve such conflicts.
