A hungry black bear turned a quiet Mountaire Springs yard into its own late-night snack bar Tuesday, knocking over several bird feeders in Sandy Springs and feasting on spilled seed before wandering off. The encounter, caught on a homeowner's security camera, is the latest in a run of summertime bear sightings that has state wildlife officials urging residents to take bird feeders down and lock up anything edible outside.
Homeowner Kathy Mowery, who shared the video, told reporters it was the second bear she has seen in the neighborhood in recent years and said nearby construction has reduced tree cover, which may be pushing wildlife closer to homes, as reported by CBS Atlanta. In the footage, the bear methodically knocks down the feeders and gobbles up the seed, behavior biologists warn can quickly teach an animal that backyards are easy food stops.
"It's really a high-calorie food source for them," Blake Graber, an urban wildlife biologist with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, told CBS Atlanta, explaining that young black bears often leave their mothers this time of year and may travel south from the North Georgia mountains looking for territory. Graber said ongoing development and population growth are shrinking available habitat and putting bears into closer contact with people.
What the DNR Recommends
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources recommends removing bird feeders from spring through fall, securing trash cans and pet food, and using loud noises or even a garden hose to encourage a visiting bear to move along, as outlined by The Georgia Department of Natural Resources. The agency also directs residents to educational materials from BearWise for step-by-step guidance on preventing repeat visits.
Bears Showing Up Across the Metro
Local newsrooms report that Sandy Springs is just one of several north-metro neighborhoods seeing bears recently, with security clips and police alerts popping up from Smyrna to Newnan in the past few weeks. WSB-TV aired video of a young bear wandering through a Smyrna backyard earlier this week, and FOX 5 Atlanta shared footage of a Newnan bear bending a pole to raid a bird feeder.
If you encounter a bear, wildlife officials say to keep your distance, do not approach, bring pets inside, and report the sighting to the Georgia DNR via its Ranger Hotline at 1-800-241-4113 or the department's Ranger Hotline page. For tips on cutting down attractants and avoiding return visits, check resources from BearWise and the DNR.
