California family stunned to discover giant bear living under their home
A California family was shocked to discover a bear living beneath their home in the San Gabriel Mountain community of Monrovia.
Homeowners, Mark Chou and Mark Lanza, discovered the 250-pound animal after the couple noticed noise coming from under their floorboards.
“It sounded like someone was messing with the pipes and tapping on the pipes,” Lanza said KTL 5.
The creature was eventually caught on CCTV footage the couple took after hearing the commotion from the bear.
‘It was so big he could barely fit through the crawl space door. He pushed his way out,” Chou said.
Mark Chou and Mark Lanza discovered the big bear living under their house after hearing strange noises under the house
‘It was so big he could barely fit through the crawl space door. He pushed his way out,” Chou said.
After the bear wandered out of its makeshift den in their home, Lanza and Chou replaced the old wooden frame and mesh with a piece of sheet metal, hoping it would keep the bear out when it returned.
This comes weeks after a beloved bear at the Mammoth Lakes campground swiped a camper and was put down by wildlife officials.
The black bear, named Victor, identified by the “V” mark on his chest, walked into the campsite and smelled grilled steak from nearby campers.
While most of the other campers retreated, one stayed behind and filmed the bear from a tree stump.
“It sounded like someone was messing with the pipes and tapping on the pipes,” Lanza said
The black bear, Victor, swiped at a camper causing minor injuries, who stayed to film the bear as other campers fled
The community protested Victor’s treatment and launched a petition on Change.org, which attracted more than 76,000 signatures.
Victor was reportedly considered a friend and neighbor of the residents before he was euthanized
The bear lunged at the camper, causing minor injuries, and was then tranquilized by wildlife officials before ultimately being euthanized.
Residents considered him a friend and neighbor, and his death sparked outrage in the community.
A petition on Change.org The protests against Victor’s treatment gathered more than 76,000 signatures and read: “Our community feels a negative weight from the way Victor’s life was destroyed and how the body was handled.”
“We call for those who started this incident to be fined and for the authorities to take a different approach, as well as assurances that this will not happen again.”
The community is working with local officials to change the way the area’s bears are treated.
Another bear took up residence in a family’s home in the San Gabriel Valley earlier this year. Bree and Jamey Tate were used to bears in the area eating trash, but this one chose to stay.
The couple told KTLA 5 they were concerned about being close to the bear with two children running around.
They called animal control and sealed the opening, hoping the bear would return to its natural habitat.