In California, the United States, there has been an unusual situation where a black bear has made itself at home in a residential building, refusing to leave for two weeks, much to the frustration of the homeowners. Authorities have stepped in to assist the homeowner in removing this unwelcome guest.
According to a report by KABC on September 24, Bob Nesler and his wife from Sierra Madre, California, discovered that a black bear had taken up residence beneath their house about two weeks ago. The bear entered the confined space through a hole on the porch.
Nesler stated, “Now it’s his den. We need to get him out because, you know, if anyone gets hurt, we would be responsible. But he hasn’t bothered us in any way.”
The couple has affectionately named the bear “Junior.” He is a male bear weighing between 300 to 400 pounds (136 to 181 kilograms) and is getting on in age. Over the past two weeks, Junior has been coming and going around their property.
Nesler mentioned, “He apparently goes out on the town at night and returns around 5:30 in the morning.”
Although Nesler doesn’t consider Junior to be dangerous, he told KNBC that his biggest complaint about Junior is the large amount of feces he leaves behind.
Upon receiving the report from the Nesler couple, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife has sent personnel to their property to help relocate Junior.
Kevin Howells from the department mentioned that the initial option was to allow Junior to voluntarily leave without pressure and then seal off the confined space with boards. They have also set up motion-activated sprinklers in an effort to deter Junior from returning.
Mrs. Nesler mentioned that Junior is a good tenant. He’s not bad, just a bear. Besides leaving piles of feces outside, he hasn’t caused any trouble. However, for safety reasons, they hope to get him to move on.
The Neslers reside in the southern part of Angeles National Forest in southern California, where bear sightings are not uncommon.
Data from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife indicates that the population of black bears in California has been increasing over the past few decades, from 10,000 to 15,000 in the 1980s to a current estimate of 25,000 to 30,000, and this is a conservative estimate.
Black bears consume plants, insects, nuts, berries, and anything they deem edible, including garbage from trash cans. When natural habitats lack food, they will search for food elsewhere, even entering human residential areas in search of sustenance.
Characterized by small, narrow heads and small ears, black bears come in fur colors ranging from brown, to brownish-black, to black. Females can weigh around 200 pounds (91 kilograms), while males can weigh up to 350 pounds (159 kilograms), with some giant black bears weighing over 600 pounds (272 kilograms) or more.