37 days of hospitality: A bear "rented" a basement in California and didn't want to leave (3 photos + 2 videos) Video)
A story unfolded in the town of Altadena, Los Angeles County, proving that sometimes "make yourself at home" is a phrase best uttered with caution. Especially when your guest weighs 500 pounds and wears a luxurious black fur coat year-round. 
A bear nicknamed "Barry," as locals call him, has been making regular appearances in the area for quite some time. He was described as a "calm" creature who generally doesn't bother anyone.
Ken Johnson, a local resident, discovered his new "roommate" on November 30th. The enormous black bear decided that Ken's basement was the perfect place for a winter retreat. Warm, dry, safe—in short, a veritable five-star den-hotel. The only problem was, Ken hadn't signed up for such a place.
While converting the basement into a den, Misha cut off his gas and electricity. The local gas and oil company, SoCalGas, refused to service the house until the bear disappeared from the basement where they planned to work. To be fair, the bear probably wouldn't have been a good colleague. 
For 37 days, the owner of the house tried to resolve the matter amicably. First, they resorted to official channels: Ken contacted the resident biologists. The specialists took a creative approach, attempting to evict the furry tenant with loud horns and even paintball guns. But the bear turned out to be no slouch. He reacted philosophically to the sounds, and apparently saw the bright splashes of paint as a free upgrade to his furry image. He was in no hurry to leave his cozy spot, where he had already managed to slightly "rearrange" the pipes and brickwork to suit his needs.
Finally, when it became clear the bear planned to stay until spring, volunteers from the BEAR League came to the rescue. And this is where real ingenuity came into play. One of the volunteers cautiously entered the basement and politely hinted from behind that it was time to leave. The bear got scared and ran away, and when he returned, he discovered that a "no-welcome mat" had been installed at the basement entrance—a special device that delivers a mild but very convincing electric shock.
The denouement came on January 9th. The bear, feeling an invigorating pulse in his paws, finally realized: Ken's hospitality had come to an end. Under the gaze of the cameras, the furry giant, with the grace of a shy cloud, left the room and disappeared into the nearby woods.
Ken Johnson could finally breathe a sigh of relief. The story had a happy ending: the bear was alive and well, the house (after some renovations) was back in human hands, and Ken now had the best story for friendly get-togethers.
