Injured bear may still be wandering around ritzy enclave, Georgia officials warn
An injured bear may still be hanging around an Atlanta-area luxury community after it was hit by a car, according to Georgia authorities.
Alpharetta residents were urged to remain cautious after the animal was spotted wandering the area along Highway 9 over the weekend, public safety officials wrote in a Facebook post.
A vehicle later struck the animal near the Avalon community, after which the bear darted into the woods behind The Hotel at Avalon. The ritzy mixed-used enclave is home to about 800 residents and features more than “500,000 square feet of retail (space),” a premium theater, office space and full service hotel, according to Avalon’s website.
Authorities have advised residents against approaching or helping the bear, which has a tracking collar.
“The Department of Natural Resources has been notified,” public safety officials said.
Adam Hammond, a senior bear biologist with Georgia DNR’s Wildlife Resources Division, said the department had received several calls about the roaming bear. It was originally collared in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and soon made its way into the Peach State.
“I’m positive its the same bear,” Hammond told McClatchy News. “Sometimes when the animals are relocated like that, it sets them on a path where they’re searching ... and figuring out where to go next. This bear had made some serious travels in the last several weeks.”
Before the sighting near Avalon, officials said the bear had been spotted in North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.
“It had made a lot of movement and wasn’t likely to stay around,” Hammond said.
Georgia residents shared their run-ins with the bear on the police department’s post.
“We saw him this morning ... around 9:45 am,” one person commented. “He ran across the road in front of us and didn’t appear injured. I did find it odd that he had a tracking device around his neck — that’s the first thing I noticed ... well, and the fact that a BEAR was running in front of me!”
“Poor bear! I hope he’s okay and someone from DNR can relocate him someplace safer,” another wrote.
If you come across an injured bear or any other wildlife, experts said it’s best to keep a safe distance and contact the Department of Natural Resources or local law enforcement.
Alpharetta is about 30 miles north of downtown Atlanta.
This story was originally published July 25, 2022 at 11:49 AM with the headline "Injured bear may still be wandering around ritzy enclave, Georgia officials warn."