Black Bear Seeks Refuge in Los Angeles Home After Wildfires

altadena, los angeles, california - A black bear named 'Berry' found hiding in a resident's home in Altadena, Los Angeles, after wildfires.

Black Bear 'Berry' Takes Shelter in Local Home

After being evacuated due to wildfires in California, a resident returned home to find a 240-kilogram black bear hiding in the crawl space. The bear, known as 'Berry' or 'Victor' by locals, was successfully lured out of the basement by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife with a feast of roasted chicken, sardines, apples, and peanut butter.

It took nearly 24 hours for eight department employees to coax the bear into a specially prepared cage with a closing door. Once captured, Berry was transported back to the Los Angeles National Forest. Prior to release, he was fitted with a GPS tracker and measured.

The homeowner, Samy Arbid, who had been evacuated due to the Eaton wildfire, expressed relief that his house was still standing despite the damage to the crawl space. The community of Pacific Palisades, where the wildfire also caused destruction, includes many Hollywood celebrities whose homes were lost in the blaze.