The Great Altadena Bear Mix-Up: A Tale of Traps, Tenants, and Unintended Guests

Altadena, California – Ah, Altadena. A beautiful spot, isn't it? Nestled right up against the San Gabriel Mountains, where the wilderness practically whispers to your backyard. But sometimes, that whisper turns into a growl, or in this case, a rather persistent scratching, as residents have discovered.

For one particular homeowner, the past month has been anything but peaceful. Imagine this: you wake up, go about your day, and know there's a wild bear, a substantial creature, literally living beneath your house. Not just visiting, mind you, but taking up residence. This wasn't just any bear; local chatter suggested it was likely 'Yellowstone,' a well-known male bear, quite the fixture in the neighborhood, often spotted rummaging through trash cans or just generally making his presence felt. But setting up shop under someone's home? That's a whole new level of unwelcome guest.

Naturally, enough was enough. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) was called in, and a plan was hatched to encourage this furry tenant to find new digs. The strategy? A humane trap, baited and set with the hope of safely relocating the persistent problem bear. A straightforward plan, or so it seemed.

Now, here's where the story takes a bit of a turn, a classic "well, that wasn't supposed to happen" moment. When the trap finally sprang, securing a large mammal, there was a collective sigh of relief, no doubt. But upon closer inspection, it became clear: they'd caught a bear alright, but not the bear. Not the month-long squatter, the seasoned male known as 'Yellowstone.' Instead, they found a different bear entirely – a juvenile female, much younger, much smaller, and certainly not the one causing all the ruckus under the house.

It's one of those instances that perfectly illustrates the unpredictable nature of wildlife management, isn't it? The little female, likely just a curious wanderer, found herself in the wrong place at the wrong time. Thankfully, wildlife officials are incredibly professional in these situations. She was thoroughly checked over, tagged for future identification – a little bit of unexpected research data, you could say – and then, with all due care, released back into her natural habitat. A quick, safe journey back to the wild for her, no harm done.

But the original problem, the very reason the trap was set in the first place, well, that remains stubbornly unresolved. 'Yellowstone,' or whichever large male bear was enjoying his subterranean bachelor pad, is still out there, presumably still under the house. The homeowner's dilemma continues, and the search for a permanent, humane solution for their uninvited, four-legged roommate presses on. It just goes to show, sometimes even the best-laid plans for animal removal can lead to a surprising detour!