On January 29th, a report from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) revealed that beneath a house in Altadena, a male black bear weighing 525 pounds was discovered in a crawl space. The homeowner had evacuated during the recent Eaton Fire.
The deadly and devastating wildfire started spreading on January 7th, rapidly engulfing the entire city and forcing residents to evacuate.
Upon the homeowner’s return, utility company personnel informed them that power restoration was not possible as a bear was hiding in the crawl space under their house, obstructing repair work.
According to the CDFW, environmental scientist Kevin Howells spent nearly 24 hours leading a team of eight department employees in safely removing the bear.
Following assessment, it was deemed impractical to subdue the bear with chemical agents, prompting the team to set up a bear trap at the opening of the crawl space to lure it out effectively.
The CDFW report stated that moments after the trap was set, the bear emerged from the crawl space, walked in, and triggered the trap door.
Subsequently, the bear was transported to Angeles National Forest for a health check. After fitting it with a tracking collar, staff released the bear back into the wild.
With the bear successfully relocated, utility workers were able to restore power service to the residence. The CDFW noted that the crawl space had been securely sealed and redesigned with bear-proof features.
The department emphasized the importance of sealing crawl spaces with bear-proof materials in foothill areas prone to bear activity before the arrival of winter to prevent bears from seeking shelter and causing property damage during the season.
In an article dated January 23rd, the non-profit environmental advocacy organization “Environment California” highlighted that the devastating wildfires not only destroyed residential areas in Los Angeles but also engulfed vast natural habitats that serve as homes to wildlife such as bears, mountain lions, and squirrels.
Witnesses reported that to evade the Palisades Fire ignited on January 7th, a mother mountain lion and two cubs crossed Topanga Canyon Boulevard.