ALTADENA, Calif. (AP) — A significant encounter between a resident and wildlife culminated in the successful eviction of a large black bear that had taken up residence in the crawl space beneath a home in Altadena, California. The bear was discovered by homeowner Ken Johnson around Thanksgiving of the previous year and had made the area its den for over a month.

During its stay under the house, the bear caused considerable damage, damaging gas lines and displacing bricks as it navigated its surroundings. Surveillance footage captured the bear effortlessly tearing away screening and maneuvering through a small opening into the crawl space. Concerned about the potential risks and damages, Johnson initially sought assistance from state wildlife officials who attempted to evict the bear using air horns and paintball guns. Unfortunately, these methods proved ineffective.

In search of a more effective solution, Johnson turned to the BEAR League, a nonprofit organization based in California that specializes in coexisting with bears. In a recent social media update, the BEAR League detailed how one of its experienced responders crawled into the tight crawl space and positioned himself behind the bear to coax it into exiting the den. Johnson expressed his astonishment at how quickly the experienced responders were able to prompt the bear to leave, stating, “I couldn’t believe it was so fast.”

Following the successful eviction, the BEAR League set up an “unwelcome” mat at the entry point of the bear’s den, which is designed to deliver an electric shock upon contact. Video captured the bear’s return to the area, where it stepped on the mat and quickly ran away in fright.

In light of the extensive damages incurred by the bear, Johnson has initiated a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the costs of repairs. He reported that the bear’s activities resulted in thousands of dollars in damage, which has been exacerbated by the circumstances he faced after losing his job following the Eaton wildfire last year. Johnson is looking to make his home livable again amid these challenges.

Messages have been left with Johnson and BEAR League for further comments.

This incident highlights the complexities of human-wildlife interactions, especially in urban areas where wildlife may stray into residential neighborhoods, causing both property damage and raising safety concerns for residents.