By Julie Weeks
jweeks@elberton.com
A black bear was spotted in the Jones Ferry Road and Sweet City area on multiple days during June 21-23.
Additional reports of a bear sighting have also been documented by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in Franklin and Madison counties during the past several weeks.
The Elbert County Sheriff's office was called to a residence on June 12 after the bear had been spotted by a homeowner in the backyard.
There was evidence the bear had moved a large tub full of bird seed from its original location. When deputies arrived, the bear picked up a bag of bird seed and ran into the woods behind the home.
Chief Deputy Darren Scarborough said the game warden was notified.
"Don't approach a bear. Call 911," Scarborough said.
Game Warden Noah Osborne confirmed previous bear activity in the county. “There have been several documented bear sightings in Elbert County over the years. If they're coming around your house put away any food sources and trash bins,” Osborne said.“If they find a food source they're probably going to hang around. They'll get into dog food, cat food, bird seed... anything sugary or sweet. If you leave your trash out on the curb they might paw through it."
Osborne said the DNR has never had a report of a black bear attacking a human in Georgia.
"There's not an innate fear we should have against the bears,” Osborne said. “There's no need to fear them although I wouldn't get between one and a cub or anything like that."
According to Osborne the DNR is not actively searching for the bear, as they consider it to be in its natural habitat.
Almost one year ago to the date, a bear was reported within the city limits of Elberton. The Elberton Police department shot the bear out of a tree on Heard Street.
Osborne said the DNR has worked with law enforcement so there is a clear understanding of the policy which should be implemented. If the bear is determined to be a nuisance to the community, law enforcement is instructed to contact them and they will come out and tranquilize the bear. The bear would then be relocated to a more remote location.
"That's what we would normally do with a bear that's causing issues. We don't normally shoot a bear," Osborne said. "Just because it's big and scary does not mean we go shoot it to get rid of it."