A 550-pound black bear, nicknamed Yellow 2120, finally vacated its unauthorized residence under a California home after weeks of failed attempts at eviction, including air horns and traps. Volunteers from the BEAR League used paintball guns to oust the unwelcome guest, but the bear initially returned until an electrified mat was installed.
Ken Johnson experienced an incredibly frustrating situation involving a massive black bear that had taken up residence under his Altadena home. The enormous creature, weighing in at 550 pounds and known to researchers as Yellow 2120, had burrowed into the crawl space just after Thanksgiving. This unexpected house guest caused considerable damage, including turning on a gas line, which left Johnson without hot water, a particularly uncomfortable situation as the weather grew colder.
The attempts to evict the bear were extensive, ranging from the use of air horns and enticing bait with cherry and caramel flavors to setting up a trap. However, the bear proved remarkably resistant to all attempts at removal, even the trap, which unfortunately captured the wrong bear. As Christmas approached, the situation remained unresolved, and the damage continued, highlighting the bear's persistence and the homeowner's mounting frustration. The ordeal underscored the challenges of human-wildlife interactions and the determination of this particular bear to find a comfortable winter home.\Finally, after weeks of enduring the unwelcome presence of Yellow 2120, a solution was found this week. Volunteers from the BEAR League, a Lake Tahoe-based nonprofit specializing in bear management, intervened to evict the persistent visitor. Employing a method they are well-versed in, the volunteers utilized paintball guns to chase the bear out of the crawl space. The eviction, which took approximately ten minutes, proved successful. Ann Bryant, the executive director of the BEAR League, explained that their organization handles around 150 bear eviction cases annually, highlighting the prevalence of such situations. The method involves volunteers entering the confined space, getting behind the bear, and using a combination of yelling, clapping, and paintball fire to scare the animal out. Bryant emphasized that bears are generally aware they shouldn't be in human habitats and respond to the methods by fleeing. Aside from the general nuisance of their presence, which includes loud snoring, pungent odors, and occasional growling, bears can cause substantial damage to homes. In their search for a cozy resting place, they frequently destroy insulation, wiring, heating ducts, and crucial utility lines. The BEAR League stepped in to assist Johnson after learning about his predicament, especially after he had to turn off the heat, a situation which Bryant and her team wanted to resolve before the onset of spring.\The story also highlights the challenges of living in an area where bear encounters are common. Yellow 2120 had previously been captured and relocated approximately ten miles away, demonstrating the bear's tenacity in returning to the area. The Department of Fish and Wildlife noted that California boasts a large black bear population, estimated at 60,000, making sightings in communities like Altadena, nestled at the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, quite frequent. Particularly, on trash day. The Eaton fire from the previous year is believed by some to have exacerbated the issue, driving bears out of their natural habitats and potentially increasing home intrusions. Before the BEAR League's intervention, Johnson had attempted numerous methods to encourage the bear to leave. He set up a burglar alarm rigged to create a loud noise, and burned CDs of dog barking audio, directing the sound into the vents. None of these attempts proved successful. Despite all the effort, Johnson said that he didn't feel at home. Initially, biologists from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife set up a bear trap at the house, but unfortunately captured the wrong bear. Finally, after the volunteer's successful eviction, the bear returned, but was met with an electrified mat. The bear, perhaps learning its lesson, chose to finally leave the property
Black Bear Altadena Eviction BEAR League Wildlife
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