500-Pound Bear Evicted from California Crawl Space

A massive black bear that had taken up residence in the crawl space beneath a California homeowner's house for more than a month was successfully evicted this week, relieving the resident of ongoing safety concerns and property damage.

Ken Johnson, an Altadena resident, first noticed the bear around Thanksgiving last November. The animal, estimated to weigh more than 500 pounds, repeatedly entered the space by tearing through screening and squeezing through a small opening, as captured on surveillance video. Over the weeks, it twisted natural gas lines, toppled bricks and shredded ductwork, causing thousands of dollars in damage and forcing Johnson to shut off his utilities to avoid potential hazards like gas leaks or fires.

Johnson initially sought assistance from state wildlife officials with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Their efforts, including air horns, paintball guns, bait and noisemakers, failed to remove the bear. Frustrated, Johnson considered legal action against the agency for what he described as inadequate support. Eventually, he contacted BEAR League, a nonprofit organization based in the Lake Tahoe area that focuses on helping people coexist...