An Altadena homeowner says he has been living with a massive and uninvited roommate — a 500-pound black bear that has taken up residence beneath his home, all caught on his outdoor surveillance cameras.

Ken Johnson told KTLA that he installed cameras near a crawlspace after noticing items around the area knocked over or damaged. What he found left him stunned.

“It was really big. I’ve seen him before, but he was going through the trash and then the next morning he’s coming out from underneath my house,” Johnson said.

Since then, the bear hasn’t just returned — it’s moved in. Johnson says he sees the animal slipping in and out of the crawlspace every day “like it owns the place.”

On Friday, the situation became more alarming when Johnson walked around the side of the house to change the camera batteries.

“I just glanced at the hole from standing up and [heard] a growl and a hiss, and I just ran,” he said.

KTLA’s Jillian Smukler accompanied Johnson to view the crawlspace on Friday. As they approached, the bear appeared again, prompting frantic moments caught on camera.

Johnson said it’s unsettling to know the animal is living just feet below the home.

“It looks like a monster because the eyes are close together and then this big, wide head, and I wasn’t even sure what I was looking at,” he said.

Law enforcement advised Johnson that staying indoors would help keep him safe, but he says he wants the bear gone.

When asked if he planned to charge rent, Johnson joked, “I might,” but added that he’s hoping for help from California Fish and Wildlife to remove the unwanted “tenant.” So far, he’s only reached a holiday closure recording.

“I don’t need a bear for Christmas. I want to get rid of the bear for Christmas,” he said.

This isn’t the first time a large black bear has settled beneath a foothill home. In February 2025, a 500-pound bear nicknamed “Yogi” moved into a Pasadena homeowner’s crawlspace after fleeing a wildfire. And in 2024, a Sierra Madre family dealt with a roughly 400-pound bear living under their porch for weeks, monitored by Fish and Wildlife. Both cases drew significant community concern — and patience — as officials worked on long-term solutions.

As Johnson waits for assistance, he plans to remain inside and keep the cameras rolling.

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