Imagine waking up to find a 550-pound brown bear had taken up residence under your house! That's exactly what happened to California homeowner Ken Johnson, and his story is a wild ride of persistence, unexpected solutions, and a surprising amount of bear-related drama.
Ken's encounter began when the bear decided his crawl space was the perfect pre-Thanksgiving getaway. He shared his experience on "ABC News Live," recounting how the bear's presence under his home became a month-long saga.
Initially, Ken tried everything he could think of to evict his unwanted guest. He deployed a full arsenal of deterrents: ammonia blown through a leaf blower, blasting loud music, playing recordings of barking dogs, and even leaving out a cologne-soaked shirt. But here's where it gets controversial... Nothing worked! The bear remained unfazed, seemingly enjoying its unexpected sanctuary.
Just when Ken was running out of ideas, help arrived in the form of the BEAR League, a wildlife nonprofit dedicated to peaceful coexistence between bears and humans. The League's executive director, Ann Bryant, explained how they sprang into action, understanding the urgency of the situation. "We knew he had to turn off his gas. We knew he couldn't take a shower, no hot water, and we thought, 'We gotta help this guy, even though it's way out of our area,'" she shared.
With the BEAR League's assistance, the eviction process was swift and efficient. According to Bryant, "Within about 10 minutes of getting to his house and looking around to get the lay of the land, we had the bear out." Their method? One team member crawled under the house, gently startled the bear, and used a paintball gun filled with vegetable oil to encourage it to leave.
And this is the part most people miss... The story doesn't end with the bear's eviction. Instead, the bear moved to another home, where it was apparently a welcome guest! The homeowner was unconcerned and allowed the bear to stay. However, the bear's journey continued, eventually leading it to a third home where its presence was not desired, prompting the BEAR League to intervene once more.
For the BEAR League, this type of situation is routine. Bryant, even at 74 years old, continues to help relocate bears, emphasizing the organization's commitment to their mission.
Ken, on the other hand, has taken precautions to prevent future bear squatters. He's installed reinforced panels and is considering additional deterrents.
What do you think about this bear's unexpected journey? Should the bear have been left alone at the first home? Do you think the BEAR League's methods were the best approach? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
