Unexpected Visitor Found in Altadena Home During Los Angeles Wildfires
Amid the chaos of the Los Angeles wildfires, a homeowner in Altadena made a startling discovery upon returning home after evacuating – a massive 525-pound black bear had taken refuge in his crawlspace.
Named Berry by locals, the bear was found blocking utility workers who were trying to restore power to the home after the Eaton Fire. Samy Arbid, the homeowner, shared with CBS News that they used a ring camera to locate the unexpected guest.
Despite initial nerves, wildlife officials were able to safely coax the bear out. Arbid mentioned that the biologist on site called Berry the biggest bear he had ever seen in person.
Speculation arose that Berry sought refuge in the crawlspace during the wildfire and was scared. Unable to tranquilize the bear due to its size, wildlife experts enticed Berry with a feast of apples, peanut butter, and rotisserie chicken.
Following the rescue, Berry was taken to the Angeles National Forest for a welfare check and fitted with a GPS collar before being released. The Altadena home has since been bear-proofed to prevent future incidents.
Authorities advised residents in bear country to secure crawl spaces with bear-proof material to prevent animals from entering and causing damage, especially during the winter months. The Eaton Fire, which started on Jan. 7, has been 99% contained as of the latest data from Cal Fire.
