Watch: Bear moves into California couple's crawlspace

Sept. 24 (UPI) -- A California couple's home has become a makeshift duplex after a new neighbor moved into their crawlspace: a bear.

Bob Nesler and Susan Nesler said the bear, which they named Junior, leaves late at night to forage for food and returns to their crawlspace in the early morning.

"That's his den right now. We gotta get him out of there because, you know, I think we'd be held responsible if anybody got hurt, but he hasn't bothered us in any way," Bob Nesler told KABC-TV.

The Neslers said they do not want to see Junior harmed.

"They're not dangerous creatures at all, unless you're a trash can," Bob Nesler said.

They said Junior has thus far been an ideal neighbor -- aside from one issue.

"He does leave piles of scat," Bob Nesler told KNBC-TV . "That's about my biggest complaint."

Kevin Howells from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said officials are attempting to encourage Junior to leave by setting up a sprinkler.

"Easiest option here is to let it leave on its own, stress free and get that space boarded up," Howells said.