For those who reside far from the wilderness, the mysteries of nature and its wild inhabitants can seem distant and enigmatic. Yet, every so often, nature ventures forth to surprise the unassuming, bringing its wonders right to their doorstep.

Such was the case for Ken Johnson, a resident of Altadena, California, who recently found an unexpected visitor—a black bear—taking refuge beneath his home in the crawlspace.

In regions like Alaska, a bear encounter might end with the animal becoming a freezer-stored delicacy, known for its delightful taste whether roasted or stewed. However, in California, the cultural approach is vastly different, leaving Mr. Johnson with a unique predicament.

The most straightforward solution might be to wait for the bear to leave in search of food, then secure the crawlspace to prevent its return. However, bears are renowned for their persistence, intelligence, and formidable strength. If determined, the bear could easily find its way back to its newly claimed den. Additionally, unlike their counterparts in colder regions, bears in Altadena often remain active throughout the winter due to the milder climate.

This situation also raises other environmental considerations. In the warmer climes of California, the habits and behaviors of wildlife can differ significantly, potentially influencing how such encounters are managed.

Nothing showed up on the camera until last week. And now he’s trying to figure out how to make it leave.

In our part of Alaska, this bear would likely have ended up in a freezer. Black bear is downright good eating, especially in a roast or a stew. But this is California, an admittedly very different local culture. That presents Mr. Johnson with something of a dilemma.

“It’s a huge bear,” Johnson said, describing it as tall as a table and bigger than the trash bins in front of his house. “It’s really unnerving because I don’t know if he’s going to tear everything up under there, I don’t know how to get him out.”

The best answer would seem to be to wait until the bear leaves to forage, then find a way to block it out. But bears are persistent, intelligent, and very, very strong. If it wants to return to the crawlspace den, it will find a way. And while bears across much of their native territory will hibernate through the winter, in this part of California, it’s not uncommon for bears in warmer climates, like Altadena, to be active throughout the winter. 

In this case, there may be other environmental considerations as well.

Johnson lives in Altadena, an unincorporated community northeast of Los Angeles that was devastated by the Eaton Fire in January. The fire killed at least 19 people and scorched thousands of structures, but it also tore through the Angeles National Forest, displacing wildlife from their natural habitats and destroying their food supply.

Shortly after the fire, at least two bears were found taking refuge in people’s evacuated homes in Altadena. State officials removed a massive, 525-pound (240-kilogram) adult male bear from a crawl space under a man’s home in January because utility crews could not get in to restore his power.

A 525-pound male is more than large enough to be seriously dangerous.