Bear Moves Out of Crawl Space Under Altadena Home
Bear No Longer Residing Under Altadena Home
A bear, known as Yellow 2120, has vacated the crawl space beneath a residence in Altadena, California, marking a new beginning for the animal as the year unfolds. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife confirmed on Thursday that the tagged bear is no longer living under the San Gabriel Valley home.
“I can confirm that Yellow 2120 is no longer under the home and the access point to the crawl space has been secured,” stated Cort Klopping, a representative from the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
The bear had captured public attention after a video showed its struggle to squeeze in and out of the narrow crawl space under the home of resident Ken Johnson. In December, Johnson expressed his ongoing concern, saying, “I feel nervous all the time. I’m always looking over my shoulder to see if he’s coming out.”
Black bears, which have diverse coat colors, are known to forage for food, including plants, insects, and sometimes, trash. As food sources dwindle in their natural habitats, these bears increasingly venture into urban areas, including neighborhoods in Southern California.
The population of black bears in California has seen significant growth over the last two decades. Official estimates suggest that the population has risen from approximately 10,000 to 15,000 in the early 1980s to between 25,000 and 30,000 today, a conservative figure according to the state wildlife department.
These black bears are identified by their small, narrow heads and ears, with coats that can range from tan and brown to black. Adult females typically weigh around 200 pounds, whereas males can reach up to 350 pounds, with some exceeding 600 pounds.
Approximately half of California’s black bear population resides in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and surrounding areas, while only about 10 percent inhabit the central and southwestern parts of the state.
Notably, the California grizzly bear, once a symbol of the state, has been extinct in the wild since the early 1920s, when the last one was observed in the region.
