After evacuating due to the Eaton Fire, Altadena resident Samy Arbid returned to an unexpected guest beneath his home—a 525-pound black bear affectionately known by locals as Barry. The bear had taken refuge in the crawl space during the wildfires. Arbid told CNN:
We had heard from neighbors that there’s, you know, this big bear. He comes around all the time. Nobody knew that the bear was actually living under our house. So that was a surprise to everybody.
Utility workers attempting to restore power first noticed the massive occupant. To confirm, Arbid placed a camera under the house, revealing the sizable visitor. Given Barry’s substantial size, tranquilization was deemed unfeasible. Instead, wildlife officials devised a culinary strategy, enticing Barry with a spread of rotisserie chicken, sardines, and peanut butter-smeared apples. The plan succeeded, and Barry was safely relocated to the Angeles National Forest, equipped with a GPS collar for monitoring.
Following Barry’s departure, the crawl space was secured to prevent future bear intrusions. Authorities advise residents in bear-prone areas to proactively secure potential denning spots, especially before winter months, to avoid similar surprise guests.
