Viral 550-Pound Bear Returns to Live Under LA-Area Homes

Los Angeles' most famous underground tenant is house-hunting again. A 550-pound tagged black bear known as "Yellow 2120" has reappeared in Altadena, slipping into the crawl space of a home on Minoru Drive before lumbering off on its own, reports the Guardian. Relatives of the homeowner tried blasting music and firing up a leaf blower to get the bear, which reportedly tore out ductwork to reach its safe space, to leave, but it stuck around until it chose to vacate.

NBC Los Angeles notes that as soon as the bear had made its exit, the homeowner arranged for a handyman to plug up any openings under the residence so that the unwanted guest couldn't return. The male bear first drew attention after camping out under a different Altadena home for two months in 2025, finally nudged out with paintballs by a volunteer group that helps people coexist with wildlife.

Officials say bears have increasingly moved into the neighborhood since a 2025 wildfire burned parts of the nearby Angeles National Forest, per the Guardian. CBS LA reports that the state's Department of Fish and Wildlife is aware that Yellow 2120 (also known as "Beary") is back in Altadena, but because the 9-year-old interloper isn't being aggressive, they're not going to try to relocate him at the moment. Locals are instructed to call the police if they spot the bear, per MyNewsLA.com.