A 550lb black bear has finally been ‘evicted’ from a house in California after the homeowner threatened legal action over a number of failed removals.
At some point or another, everyone has had an unwelcome critter visitor in their house. Bugs, spiders, flies, and other little creatures can be annoying to get rid of, but they don’t usually stick around for too long.
However, over in California, homeowner Kenneth Johnson has had a 550lb black bear living underneath his home since Thanksgiving and couldn’t be coaxed out or moved elsewhere.
At the end of 2025, Johnson threatened legal action against the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, claiming negligence and emotional distress after the state failed to remove the black bear. However, things have taken a more positive turn in 2026.
The bear climbs in and out through a crawlspace window.
Viral bear finally removed from home after months of trying
On January 8, KTLA reported that Johnson finally had his wishes granted, with the half-tonne bear being removed from underneath his home by BEAR League, a bear rescue organization, on January 6.
“I’m relieved – no more banging under the house and smelling him and wondering what’s going on under there,” the homeowner told KTLA. He said it took the organization around 10 minutes to get the bear to move from underneath his home.
“I couldn’t believe it was so fast. These guys went in, they crawled in behind him and, boom, he was out,” Johnson added.
As per the homeowner, the bear had tried to return on January 8, but took off after running into Johnson’s new defences – an electrified mat over the entrance.
Johnson has suffered a ruptured gas line because of the bear. “There’s a lot of damage under there,” he added.
It remains to be seen if the animal will attempt to return in the future or if he’ll tender any legal action for damages caused. For now, though, he’s got rid of the unwanted visitor.
