On Tuesday, September 29, a community in Altadena was put on alert as a 550-pound black bear returned to the area and was found hiding in a crawl space of a residence.
According to reports from the city news agency, the homeowners on Minoru Drive revealed that they discovered the bear in the crawl space on Monday, and the bear seemed to have settled in with no signs of leaving.
NBC LA reported that the homeowners began monitoring the crawl space with surveillance cameras and attempted to scare the bear away by playing music and stomping on the floor above the crawl space.
After multiple unsuccessful attempts to drive the bear away using methods like leaf blowers, the bear eventually left the residence on its own. The homeowners quickly sealed off the entrance to the crawl space.
A relative of the homeowner, Steve Clark, told NBC LA that he believes the bear has been active in the community due to most of its habitat being destroyed in the 2025 Eaton Fire.
The bear, identified as “Yellow 2120” and marked, has not returned to the residence but is believed to still be active in the vicinity.
“Yellow 2120” has gained quite a reputation in Altadena. Around Thanksgiving in 2025, it stayed in a crawl space of another residence for about a month before moving on and finding shelter under the homes of two other local households.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is aware of the bear’s presence in the area. Authorities urge residents to immediately contact the police if they encounter the bear.