Man living with giant bear under his home threatens to sue officials — ‘They should deal with it’
- - Man living with giant bear under his home threatens to sue officials — ‘They should deal with it’
Jeremy LouwerseDecember 30, 2025 at 11:20 AM
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It’s getting “Beary” contentious.
A man who has been living with a 550-pound black bear under his home for the past month has officially reached his breaking point — threatening to sue the California Department of Fish and Wildlife after he says they left him to deal with the massive creature on his own.
A claim the department is calling a bear-faced lie, The Post has learned.
Ken Johnson, of Altadena, CA, has been tormented by the uninvited furry guest who planted himself in the small crawlspace underneath the home since November 30th, causing severe damage to his home and many sleepless nights.
“Unbearable” is seen making his way out of the crawl space under Ken Johnson’s home. Ken J. Johnson
Infuriated, Johnson is now threatening the CDFW with a lawsuit after he claims the department has stopped efforts to remove the bear, according to KTLA.
“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 told KTLA.
The CDFW is telling a beary different story.
“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,” a CDFW spokesperson told The Post.
Right trap, wrong bear. CDFW’s trap caught a neighborhood bear, not the one living under Johnson’s home. Fish and Game
“I’d really like to comment, but I’m not going to until I have proper legal representation,” Johnson responded to The Post.
Resources were on scene shortly after the bear first arrived to Johnson’s property — deploying a cherry and caramel scent spray designed to lure the beast out with no luck.
A massive metal trap filled with fried chicken, sardines, shrimp, peanut butter, and fruit was then brought in … but it caught a different bear that was also making its rounds through the neighborhood.
The bear finally emerged from under the home on Christmas, in footage obtained by The Post. The bruin could be seen making a quick loop around the property early in the morning before retreating back into the crawlspace.
It was shortly after the bear’s appearance when Johnson was allegedly told the department was giving up on removal efforts.
“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?” Johnson told KTLA.
Ken Johnson who has been living with a bear for a month. Ken J Johnson Photography and Design
The bear continues to wake Johnson up at five in the morning. “I wake up, toss and turn and then I think I hear something, is he under my bed? Last night I didn’t get much sleep,” he told The Post.
Johnson’s home has been taking a beating from the bruin, he had to turn off his gas on Christmas eve after spotting damage caused by the creature.
“I can’t take a hot shower. I’ve got to monitor the situation all the time,” Johnson said.
“The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is committed to helping Californians across the state who are having unwelcome encounters with wildlife, which can cause stress and pose complicated challenges for peaceful coexistence.” the department stressed to The Post.
Source: “AOL Breaking”
