525-Pound Bear Found Under a House in California After Fire

A 525-pound male bear was found living under a house in Altadena after its homeowner was evacuated in the Eaton Fire, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife reported on Jan. 29, 2025. CDFW

California wildlife workers found a 525-pound adult male bear in the crawl space of an Altadena home evacuated during the recent Eaton Fire, the department reported on Jan. 29.

The homeowners and their neighbors were evacuated shortly after the destructive and deadly wildfire burned through the city starting on Jan. 7.

When the homeowners returned to the house, the utility company informed them they were unable to restore power because a bear was living under the home where crews needed to work, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said in a social media post on Wednesday.

According to the department, environmental scientist Kevin Howells spent nearly 24 hours leading a team of eight CDFW employees to remove the animal.

After evaluating the crawl space and the size of the bear, the department said it was clear to the crew that using chemicals to subdue it was not an option. Instead, they determined that placing a trap near the crawlspace opening would be the best way to get the bear out.

“Within minutes of placing the trap, the bear came out of the crawlspace, walked in and triggered the trap door,” the department reported.

The bear was taken to the Angeles National Forest, where it was given a welfare check, measured, and fitted with a location-tracking collar before being released.

Once the animal was relocated, utility workers were able to restore service to the home. The CDFW said the crawl space was securely boarded up and is now bear-proof.

“In the foothills of bear country, it’s important to close crawl spaces with bear-proof material in advance of winter months to discourage bears from denning and damaging property,” according to the department.

The recent fires in Los Angeles, which continue to burn, not only threaten human lives and buildings, but they also threaten local wildlife, according to the nonprofit environmental advocacy group Environment California.

“The wildfires devastating residential neighborhoods in LA have also scorched vast stretches of natural habitat, potentially threatening the bears, mountain lions, squirrels, and other wildlife that make these areas their home,” the group wrote in an essay published Jan. 23.

A large bear was found living under an evacuated house in Altadena, Calif., the California Department of Fish and Wildlife reported on Jan. 29, 2025. CDFW

Witnesses reported a mountain lion family—a mother and two cubs—crossing Topanga Canyon Boulevard to escape the Palisades Fire, which also started on Jan. 7.

According to Environmental California, wildlife can be threatened directly by the flames or from the loss of its critical habitats and food sources.

The animals can also develop respiratory issues from smoke inhalation, the group reported.