Los Angeles resident makes terrifying discovery after returning home following Eaton wildfire
3 February 2025, 21:44 | Updated: 4 February 2025, 00:37
A California resident has made a terrifying discovery after returning to his LA home following extensive wildfires across the state.
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Samy Arbid, 41, returned to his home - which survived the Eaton wildfire, to discover an unexpected squatter beneath his house.
Entering the crawlspace beneath his home, the resident ventured into the darkness to fit a Ring doorbell camera.
But within minutes, Mr Arbid found himself face-to-face with a giant 525-pound bear - an animal deemed too big for tranquillisers to be effective.
It's believed the animal took sanctuary under the house during the wildfires, with Mr Arbid forced to rapidly retreat.
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"We ended up putting a ring camera with a light on it under the crawlspace and found out we have a giant bear under there," Arbid told CBS News.
"It was nerve-wracking for a while," he added.
"I think during the fire he pretty much stayed in there," Arbid added.
"I think he was scared."
Faced with a dilemma after gas crews refused to replace a pipe beneath the property with the animal still in situ, Mr Arbid called in the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Hatching a mouthwatering plan, the department set up a tempting trap to lure the animal from its makeshift layer.
"So, they went to Stater Brothers [Supermarket] and bought some rotisserie chicken and sardines and tomato sauce, apples, peanut butter — all kinds of stuff," Arbid explained.
"They made a feast for him."
Eventually coaxing the animal into a container, the beast was later released back into the Angeles National Forest, far away from Mr Arbid's basement void.
The bear was also reportedly fitted with a GPS tracking collar.
"The biologist actually said it was the biggest bear he's ever seen in person," Mr Arbid said.
