Chatsworth Police Chief Terry Martin said the mother bear and her two cubs spotted in the city several times this week are likely just looking for food.
They haven’t attacked anyone, and no extensive property damage has been reported, but the bears are apparently becoming enough of a nuisance to cause schools to keep students indoors and prod several residents to contact authorities for help.
Martin said officers received a call about the black bears on Monday and, on the advice of officials from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), shot them with rubber bullets designed to inflict enough pain to scare them off without killing them or causing serious injury. He said they did the same thing again on Tuesday.
People have reported seeing the bears at Hyden Tyler Road and Fort Street, among other places downtown. A 911 operator said they’ve had calls for the bears coming up to a preschool, the recreation center and on people’s back porches.
“Last year, we had one down at the city park,” Martin said. “This time of year, we usually have them come out.”
He said that while the bears haven’t been reported as being aggressive toward humans, people should not approach them because bears that feel threatened could become dangerous. Adam Hammond, a wildlife biologist and state bear project leader for the DNR, said there has been one report of the bear “charging” someone after the individual tried to run the bear off a porch. Had the bear wanted to catch and attack the person, she could have, he said, since the bears can run up to 35 mph. Instead, she stopped.
“It wasn’t a situation where somebody’s life was in danger,” Hammond said. “It was just a situation where somebody got a little bit too close.”
Shooting bears outside of bear season is against the law, and discharging a firearm inside the city limits is also illegal unless the person is doing it in self-defense, Martin said. Bear hunting season with firearms in Murray County runs from Oct. 20 to Dec. 2.
Hammond said there are no plans to shoot the bear at this point, and he said sedating and releasing her isn’t an option since there’s a possibility someone could harvest the bear for meat and end up eating the substance used to sedate her. Officials have set a trap for the bear and are encouraging people to keep their distance as well as bring their cat food, dog food, garbage with food scraps or similar items inside or where the bear can’t get to them.
“Hopefully, she’ll move out on her own,” Hammond said.
Murray County Schools Administrative Services Director Mike Tuck said he advised administrators at Coker Elementary School and Chatsworth Elementary School on Thursday to keep students indoors until the bears are caught. Students who normally walk to school have been advised to ride the bus or find other transportation until they’re caught.
Tuck said the advice was done “out of an abundance of caution.”
Students at Gladden Middle School and Murray County High School have also been advised to remain indoors unless participating in a scheduled outdoor activity, he said.
Hammond said that while it’s not unusual for bears to show up in town, this is an odd time for it to happen. He said there are plenty of acorns available, but the bear has apparently found plenty of food sources in town worth staying around for.
“The more of that she finds, it’s like a positive reward for coming around, and she’s more apt to stay,” he said. “She’s had enough of these free meals over time to where she’s OK (being around people at a distance she feels is safe). She’s not seeking out people, she’s seeking out people food.”
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A reader submitted this photo of a bear crossing the street near Chatsworth Elementary School recently.
Discussion
September 27, 2012
Authorities trying to run bears out of Chatsworth
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College bound
Noel Salaices poses next to his picture on the Advanced Placement Scholar wall at Dalton High School. (Matt Hamilton/The Daily Citizen)
Noel Salaices said he has become inspired over the past year to look beyond his circumstances and realize the blessings in his life.
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