An unexpected guest was discovered taking refuge beneath an Altadena home.
Nicole Comstock of KCAL reports on the story of a large bear and the efforts to return it to its natural habitat.
Hikers in Eaton Canyon are no strangers to encounters with local wildlife such as deer or coyotes, but the Nature Preserve is also home to bears.
The recent Eaton fire led one such bear to seek shelter under a nearby family's house.
"It might be his neighborhood, but it's definitely not his house," said homeowner Samy Arbid.
The family, noticing unusual activity, installed a ring camera under their home, revealing a massive bear in their crawl space. "It was a bit nerve-wracking," admitted Arbid.
Known to locals as Barry or Victor, the bear resides in the Eaton Canyon area, which was affected by the fire over three weeks ago.
"He probably stayed under our house to escape the fire. He seemed scared," Arbid explained.
The bear's presence posed a problem for SoCal Gas crews, who were unable to access the gas meter after the fire.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife set up a trap, baited with an irresistible spread of rotisserie chicken, sardines, apples, peanut butter, and more.
The tactic worked, and the bear was lured out successfully.
Experts decided against tranquilizing the bear due to its substantial size, weighing in at an impressive 525 pounds.
"It's the biggest bear I've ever seen in person," commented a biologist on the scene.
Neighbors expressed relief at the bear's safe removal.
"He's harmless; just a hungry bear looking for some good trash," said Patty Smith, a local resident. Smith voiced concerns for the wildlife affected by the fire, noting, "He probably sought safety from the fire and the strong winds."
Fitted with a GPS collar, the bear was safely relocated to the Angeles National Forest.
Homeowners are reminded by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to secure their crawl spaces with sturdy materials, especially during winter, to prevent bears from making dens under homes.
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