MASSIVE Animal HIJACKS Home For Weeks

A grizzly bear roaring in a natural setting

A 550-pound black bear has turned a quiet Altadena home into its personal den, evading a state trap that snared the wrong beast instead.

Story Snapshot

California Department of Fish and Wildlife set a trap under the home’s crawlspace after the bear occupied it for over two weeks.
The trap captured a non-target bear, which officials released into suitable habitat.
Homeowner tried a DIY “sweet roll” bait plan before official intervention failed.
Altadena’s foothill location drives rising human-bear conflicts from habitat overlap.
Incident echoes Tahoe cases where habituated bears evade capture and perpetuate problems.

Bear Claims Altadena Crawlspace Residence

The 550-pound black bear entered the crawlspace under an Altadena home over two weeks ago. This foothill suburb near Los Angeles borders San Gabriel bear habitats. Natural food scarcity pushed the bear into human areas. Crawlspaces mimic natural dens, offering dark shelter. The homeowner endured the massive intruder, facing daily safety threats and property risks.

Homeowner actions escalated when the bear refused to leave. He deployed sweet rolls as DIY bait to lure it out. This desperate measure highlighted personal initiative amid growing frustration. Such habituation cycles worry experts, as bears learn human zones provide easy resources. Common sense demands securing attractants early to avoid these standoffs.

California Fish and Wildlife Deploys Trap

California Department of Fish and Wildlife responded to the homeowner’s pleas. Agents placed a trap baited with dessert items directly under the crawlspace. They targeted the 550-pound resident specifically. Officials prioritize relocation over euthanasia for habituated black bears. This approach aligns with conservative values of stewardship, preserving wildlife when possible.

The trap sprang into action swiftly. It captured a bear, but not the intended 550-pound giant. The non-target bear received swift release into remote habitat. CDFW confirmed the mix-up publicly. No injuries occurred, but the operation exposed intervention limits in urban-wild interfaces.

Altadena’s event parallels Tahoe Keys incidents. There, sow #753 linked to 12 break-ins evaded traps from “Hank the Tank” lineage. Traps got removed without success. Multi-generational habituation persists because bears target locked homes and unsecured trash. Education on securing attractants proves more effective than repeated trapping.

Short-term, the Altadena homeowner faces ongoing disruption. The target bear likely remains ensconced. Long-term, unchecked conflicts strain communities and wildlife agencies. Economic costs mount for operations, while social tensions rise over management choices. Depredation permits face denial despite resident pleas.

Lessons from Habituation Cycles

Experts like the Tahoe Interagency Bear Team stress hazing and cub rehabilitation. They advocate trash controls as coexistence keys. Bears bypass deadbolts, showing learned boldness. CDFW PIO Peter Tira emphasized community safety. Facts support aggressive attractant prevention over reactive traps, embodying practical American self-reliance.

Homeowners hold frontline power. Locking garbage and food sources breaks cycles before bears settle in. Altadena underscores urgency in bear country. Failed traps signal deeper policy reliance on non-lethal means, sometimes prolonging risks. Common sense favors property rights and swift resolutions when wildlife turns pest.