An extraordinary wildlife encounter has left one Altadena homeowner both bewildered and cautious after a massive 550-pound black bear took up seemingly permanent residence underneath his house during the holiday season.

Ken Johnson has been living with an unusual and potentially dangerous roommate since Thanksgiving week, when security cameras first captured the bear squeezing into the crawlspace beneath his home. Despite multiple attempts to encourage the bear's departure, including playing recorded barking sounds, the persistent animal shows no signs of relocating.

Wildlife experts from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife have been actively involved in the situation, setting up additional surveillance cameras and even deploying a specialized trap baited with enticing cherry and caramel scents. On December 16th, their trap did capture a bear, but officials quickly determined it was not the same animal residing under Johnson's house.

The homeowner reports hearing unsettling sounds of clawing and scratching underneath his floors, heightening his concerns about potential structural damage. Johnson admits feeling particularly vulnerable, especially given his lack of a protective dog and the bear's seeming comfort in its makeshift den.

Adding complexity to the situation, Johnson is hesitant to take aggressive removal actions, recognizing potential legal implications surrounding protected wildlife. The Department of Fish and Wildlife has communicated that while they remain committed to helping, Johnson will ultimately be responsible for securing the crawlspace once the bear departs.

In a moment of candid reflection, Johnson shared his sense of powerlessness, stating, "People talk about feeling humbled. This is very humbling. There's a bear under my house, and there's nothing I can do about it!" His experience highlights the unpredictable interactions between human habitation and wildlife in California's diverse ecosystems.

As the standoff continues, both Johnson and wildlife officials remain patient, hoping the bear will eventually decide to move on to more natural habitats.