Bear under home in Wofford Heights
WOFFORD HEIGHTS, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — A Wofford Heights man has a bear under his house.
Eric Barnes said he saw the bear Tuesday morning while he was out in his front yard. He heard a grunting noise and locked eyes with it under his porch.
"I just heard something, and I turned around and looked, and there was a bear!" he said.
Not taking any chances, Barnes said he ran back inside and called officials. But even after several hours of trying to coax him out, the bear didn't budge.
"He seems too comfortable. I used to be comfortable here too, but I'm not now," said Barnes.
California Department of Fish and Wildlife officials told him it was an adult black bear that weighed around 800 pounds. The bear, who often goes through trash in the neighborhood, is well known to locals, who call him "Ditka."
Barnes said this is actually the second time Ditka has taken up residence under his home this season. He stayed for several days back in November. That time, Barnes remembered hearing him through the floorboards.
"When you're in the house, you can hear him through the floor. He bumps his head on the floor, and then you know exactly where he's at. He's right under your feet," recalled Barnes.
Barnes said he's staying somewhere else for the night and hopes the bear leaves by morning. If not, he said officials with the Department of Fish and Wildlife have plans to help remove the bear.
