Reports of a black bear roaming near Alpharetta Elementary School on Thursday morning jolted the surrounding Lantern Ridge subdivision, prompting police to sweep the streets and urge residents to stay alert. Officers searched the neighborhood after the calls came in but were not able to find the animal. The department is asking neighbors to keep a close eye on children and pets outside and to avoid getting anywhere near any bear they might spot.
Alpharetta police say officers were called to the Lantern Ridge subdivision area after multiple residents reported seeing a black bear moving through the neighborhood. "Officers were unable to locate the bear when they arrived," Capt. Jakai Braithwaite said, as reported by 95.5 WSB.
Police Warn Families And Pet Owners
With an elementary school and homes in the mix, police are stressing that residents keep a tight watch on kids and animals while the bear is potentially in the area. "Be careful, supervise your children outside playing, make sure you know what’s going on; supervise your pets out there," Braithwaite said, and he warned residents not to approach or try to photograph the animal, as reported by 95.5 WSB. In other words, no close-up bear selfies.
Construction And Habitat Changes Could Be A Factor
Braithwaite suggested that nearby construction activity could be playing a role in recent bear sightings, with habitat disturbance nudging wildlife into residential streets. Development that pushes animals out of their usual territory, combined with unsecured food sources, often draws black bears into suburban yards, according to the National Park Service.
How To Reduce The Chance Of An Encounter
Residents are encouraged to make their properties less tempting to a hungry bear by removing or securing attractants such as household trash, bird seed and outdoor pet food, and by storing grills and coolers indoors when they are not in use. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources' urban wildlife guidance also recommends documenting any bear sightings through iNaturalist or by emailing [email protected], according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Keeping children and pets supervised, especially near wooded edges and greenways, further cuts the risk of an unexpected up-close encounter.
What To Do If You See A Bear
If you see a bear that is not acting aggressively, police say to keep your distance, make your presence known and move away slowly while keeping children and pets close. If the animal is aggressive or poses an immediate danger, call 911. Otherwise, contact the Alpharetta Police Department so officers can respond and wildlife officials can be notified.
Police say they will respond to any further reports in the area. Residents are urged to monitor local alerts for updates and to report bear sightings to local authorities or wildlife managers so the situation can be tracked and handled safely.
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