Beware for bears! Georgia police department warns neighbors

CENTERVILLE, Ga. — It’s that time of the year where more and more bears are coming out of hibernation and surprising their 2-legged neighbors.

The Centerville Police Department in Middle Georgia posted a video on its Facebook page of a bear roaming a family’s yard this morning. Officers want people to be on alert.

“A bear was spotted by several residents this morning in Centerville. It is between Carl Vinson and Houston Lake just north of Watson Blvd. There is no video to show that the bear has moved along. It could be in a back yard or up in a tree. Keep your eyes open,” the post said.

The police department said if you see a bear in your yard, you’re asked to call 911 immediately so the proper authorities can have it removed.

Bear sightings are normal and are to be expected across our state in the spring.

So, what do you do if you come across a bear? Here are steps from the DNR’s “BearWise” program:

• NEVER FEED OR APPROACH BEARS: Feeding bears (intentionally or unintentionally) trains them to approach homes and people for more food. Bears will defend themselves if a person gets too close, so don’t risk your safety and theirs!
• SECURE FOOD, GARBAGE AND RECYCLING: Food and food odors attract bears so don’t reward them with easily available food or garbage.
• REMOVE BIRD FEEDERS WHEN BEARS ARE ACTIVE: Birdseed and other grains have a high calorie content making them very attractive to bears. The best way to avoid conflicts with bears is to remove feeders.
• NEVER LEAVE PET FOOD OUT: Feed outdoor pets portion sizes that will be completely eaten during each meal and then remove leftover food and food bowl. Securely store these foods so nothing is available to bears.
• CLEAN AND STORE GRILLS: After you use an outdoor grill, clean it thoroughly and make sure that all grease and fat is removed. Store cleaned grills and smokers in a secure area that keeps bears out.
• LET NEIGHBORS KNOW: Share news with your friends and neighbors about recent bear activity and how to avoid bear conflicts. Bears have adapted to living near people; are you willing to adapt to living near bears?

The black bear is a symbol of Georgia’s natural diversity, the only bear found in the state and a conservation success story. Though now considered the most common bear in North America, the species was nearly eradicated from Georgia in the 1930s due to unregulated market hunting, illegal harvest—including the killing of bears as “vermin,” and large-scale habitat loss. Sound wildlife management practices have restored Georgia’s black bears to a thriving population estimated at 4,100 bears statewide.

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