PAULDING COUNTY, Ga. — A Georgia sheriff is telling locals to be on the lookout for a bear in their neighborhood - and to leave it alone.
The Paulding County Sheriff's Office posted two pictures to Facebook on Saturday that showed a black bear near a white fence. The message said the bear was spotted near Woodrow Kay and Pleasant Grove roads early Saturday but had been spotted several times in the Beulah community on the county's west side.
The sheriff's office said the Georgia Department of Natural Resources had been notified and advised neighbors to stay away from the bear and not to make contact.
On its website, the DNR provides a list of recommendations for communities in wooded areas where bears sometimes make their way into inhabited areas.
The first goes along with their above recommendation - never feed or approach them. This could make them more likely to approach humans and homes for food. They may also defend themselves if someone gets too close.
Storage of food, garbage and recycling is also recommended as these can attract bears to your home. They also tend to like birdseed, so removing bird feeders during the active months for these creatures is advisable.
For the same reason, it's a good idea to not leave pet food outdoors and to avoid feeding pets outdoors in general. If you have to do so, feed them in single portions and bring the food and bowl inside.
And with summer just starting, the DNR advises that, while grilling outside may be fun, it's a good idea to clean and store the grills in a secure area so they don't smell the leftover food.
And finally, the DNR advises neighbors to watch out for each other. Tell them if you see signs a bear may have been in the area.
