Black Bear Spotted in North Georgia Neighborhood

A 150-200 pound black bear is spotted in a Chickamauga, Georgia neighborhood, and blamed for the mauling of a pet.

Residents on Bowen Lane say they are keeping a close eye on their children, and bringing their pets inside, after reports of a black bear roaming through the area spread in the neighborhood.

Animal control officers confirm reports of a 911 call from a woman who says the bear killed her dog.

But others doubt the bear is to blame. Adam Hammond of the Northwest Georgia regional office of the Department of Natural Resources says bears rarely attack, unprovoked.

Hammond says bear sightings this time of year are common, as the animals move in search of food, and a new habitat. Numbers of black bears in the North Georgia region are increasing, Hammond says, and that means sightings will become more common as well.

Hammond believes the bear was likely looking for food, and points to the nearby landfill as the perfect foraging spot.

But, as a precaution, Walker County Sheriff's deputies and animal control officers are patrolling the area.

While some neighbors say they want the bear caught and removed, Hammond says that's not the most practical, or the best long-term solution. He says the DNR rarely traps and releases bears anymore because they are just as likely to wander back to the same area. Hammond says the best solution to rid the neighborhood of bears is for people to seal off food sources, containers, trash cans, and other things that could entice a bear.