Bear Spotted In Milton Near Cherokee, Forsyth County Lines

MILTON, GA -- Spring brings with it nicer weather, pollen and, more often than not, bears.

The City of Milton posted online last week that it received its first report of a bear sighting in the community near the Cherokee/Forsyth county lines.

"This is likely the same bear that annually makes its way down through Milton and into Roswell this time of year," Milton Communications Director Shannon Ferguson said. "It’s been the case the last three years that I’ve been with the City of Milton."

The city advised citizens to follow the Georgia Department of Natural Resources - Georgia DNR Wildlife Division's six BearWise Basics.

1. Never feed or approach bears. Intentionally feeding bears or allowing them to find anything that smells or tastes like food teaches bears to approach homes and people looking for more. Bears will defend themselves if a person gets too close, so don’t risk your safety and theirs.
2. Secure food, garbage and recycling. Food and food odors attract bears, so don’t reward them with easily available food, liquids or garbage.
3. Remove bird feeders when bears are active. Birdseed and grains have lots of calories, so they’re very attractive to bears. Removing feeders is the best way to avoid creating conflicts with bears.
4. Never leave pet food outdoors. Feed pets indoors when possible. If you must feed pets outside, feed in single portions and remove food and bowls after feeding. Store pet food where bears can’t see or smell it.
5. Clean and store grills. Clean grills after each use and make sure that all grease, fat and food particles are removed. Store clean grills and smokers in a secure area that keeps bears out.
6. Alert neighbors to bear activity. See bears in the area or evidence of bear activity? Tell your neighbors and share info on how to avoid bear conflicts. Bears have adapted to living near people; now it’s up to us to adapt to living near bears.

Black bears once roamed over all of America’s forested lands, Bearwise said. But after European settlement, their numbers and habitat in the southeast dwindled. Thanks to new attitudes and enlightened conservation and management efforts, black bears are making a dramatic comeback over much of their historic home range.

Now that bears are returning to areas they used to call home, it’s up to people and communities to learn how to peacefully coexist with these animals.

Today, the southeast is home to more than 70,000 black bears. There is an estimated 5,100 black bears in Georgia, according to Bearwise.

BearWise was developed by bear experts from the Southeastern states and is supported by the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.