In a dramatic twist of events, a homeowner in California is gearing up for a legal battle against the state following an unnerving encounter with local wildlife. Kenneth Johnson, who resides in Altadena, was startled to find a substantial 550-pound black bear had settled beneath his $1.5 million property right around the Thanksgiving holiday.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) was promptly called in to handle the situation. Their strategy involved using bait and noisemakers in an attempt to lure the hefty creature, known to researchers as Yellow 2120, out from its unexpected hideaway.
However, on December 9, their efforts hit a snag. Instead of capturing the formidable Yellow 2120, the team accidentally trapped a smaller bear. This mix-up left the primary intruder undeterred and still occupying the crawl space.
Johnson, equipped with a plethora of cameras, was confident that the bear under his home had never vacated. “I knew my bear hadn’t gone out,” he explained to the Los Angeles Times.
Though the smaller bear was tagged and subsequently released back into the wild, Johnson’s ordeal is far from over. Yellow 2120 continues to haunt his residence, turning what should be a sanctuary into a source of stress and prompting him to consider legal action against the state for failing to remove the unwelcome guest.
The department tagged and released the smaller bear, but Johnson said Yellow 2120 is still terrorizing his home despite his efforts to flush the creature out.
Johnson told the outlet that he jury-rigged a burglar alarm with foam so it makes a clattering sound and burned CDs with hours of dog barking audio and pointed speakers into the vents.
‘If I kept track of everything I tried, it would be Bear 14, Homeowner 0,’ Johnson added to KTLA, using a sports analogy to show his losing record with the bear.
Kenneth Johnson (pictured), 63, has threatened to sue the California Department of Fish and Wildlife after they failed to remove a 550-pound bear living under his house
Johnson discovered the massive male black bear had taken up residence in the crawl space of his Altadena home just before Thanksgiving
Johnson is now threatening to sue the department, accusing officials of negligence and emotional distress after he claimed they suddenly told him to stand down on his efforts to remove the bear.
‘I felt very defeated. I just dropped. Now what? It’s all up to me, and I’m supposed to watch my phone when he comes out in the middle of the night? Or sleep in the kitchen and listen for him every night?’ he said.
He even said he asked if he could keep trying to lure the bear out on his own, and was told, ‘No, can’t do that.’
‘This has gone on long enough, and it’s something that they should deal with. It’s a tagged bear. They’ve dealt with it before. They chose not to euthanize it, and now it’s back and it’s just going to keep on doing this,’ Johnson said.
However, a spokesperson from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife told the Daily Mail they are committed to helping Johnson.
‘Despite very limited staff, CDFW biologists have been in constant communication with this homeowner since this bear was reported entering his unsecured crawlspace in November. We remain committed to helping this homeowner and have never indicated otherwise,’ the spokesperson said.
‘CDFW biologists have set up traps with bait, installed cameras and lights for remote monitoring, and worked repeatedly to haze the bear from this property. CDFW has also advised that the crawlspace be secured on the multiple occasions the bear has left the home, which is a critically important step to help ensure the bear cannot return.’
The spokesperson added, ‘CDFW has and will continue to engage with the homeowner to advise on hazing methodologies and the critical need to close the crawlspace, monitor cameras, and offer support to help ensure the bear leaves the crawlspace and finds more suitable habitat.’
Officials have attempted to capture the beast, called Yellow 2120 by researchers, with bait and noisemakers, but have been unsuccessful
Johnson claimed the Department of Fish and Wildlife told him they will no longer help remove the beast, but a department spokesperson told the Daily Mail they are committed to helping
According to the LA Times, officials recognized Yellow 2120 as a bear that was trapped in the last year near Altadena and relocated about 10 miles from Johnson’s house.
Johnson told local media that he can still hear the bear moving around and is fearful for his safety.
‘I can hear the plastic being shredded underneath, and one of the cameras picked it up just bulldozing through it. It’s a mess under there,’ Johnson said.
Johnson was forced to shut off his gas on Christmas Eve after he captured video of a broken pipe by the bear, and said he has not had hot water since.
‘I’m just exhausted from the whole thing,’ he said. ‘I get my mind off it for a little bit, and then suddenly I get flooded back with, oh that’s right, I can’t take a hot shower. I’ve got to monitor the situation all the time.’
Daily Mail has contacted Johnson for further comment.
