A California homeowner threatens to sue state wildlife officials after they abandoned him to live with a 550-pound black bear terrorizing his property for over a month.
Story Highlights
- Ken Johnson has endured a massive black bear living under his Altadena home since before Thanksgiving
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife stopped helping after capturing the wrong bear and banning homeowner from using bait
- The 550-pound bear has caused extensive property damage, forcing Johnson to shut off his gas supply
- Legal experts confirm Johnson has grounds for negligence lawsuit against the state agency
State Agency Abandons Homeowner to Dangerous Wildlife
Ken Johnson’s nightmare began before Thanksgiving when a tagged 550-pound black bear, designated Yellow 2120, moved into the crawl space beneath his Altadena home. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife initially responded to Johnson’s calls for help but demonstrated shocking incompetence by capturing the wrong bear entirely. Rather than acknowledging their mistake and redoubling efforts, the agency effectively abandoned Johnson, leaving him to deal with a dangerous predator on his own property.
Property Destruction Forces Safety Compromises
The massive bear has transformed Johnson’s home into a construction zone, systematically shredding plastic materials and causing extensive damage throughout the crawl space. The destruction became so severe that Johnson was forced to shut off his gas supply as a safety precaution. He reports hearing the bear moving constantly beneath his floors, creating an intolerable living situation that any reasonable government agency should prioritize resolving immediately.
Watch: https://youtu.be/b6XWdLl9di4?si=T13W8QkHkrRuu6OR
Wildlife Officials Compound Problems with Bureaucratic Roadblocks
Instead of taking responsibility for their initial failure, California wildlife officials made Johnson’s situation worse by prohibiting him from using bait to lure the bear away from his property. This bureaucratic overreach exemplifies how government agencies prioritize regulations over citizen safety and property rights. The agency’s decision to stop providing assistance while simultaneously restricting Johnson’s ability to solve the problem himself demonstrates the worst kind of government incompetence and neglect.
Legal Action Targets Government Negligence
Legal analyst Alison Triessl confirms that Johnson has strong grounds for a negligence lawsuit against the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The agency’s own policies require them to address public safety threats posed by wildlife, making their abandonment of Johnson’s case a clear breach of duty. This lawsuit represents more than one man’s fight against bureaucratic incompetence—it challenges government agencies that fail to protect citizens while restricting their ability to protect themselves and their property.
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