Bears in southwest Georgia? Yes, when there’s love or food involved

ALBANY‒ Following the release of a recent black bear safety article, I have had a number of conversations with individuals who have encountered or heard of bear encounters in southwest Georgia. Believing to have found evidence of bear migration on property we own in Terrell County, I determined to not only learn more about the animals but to research whether their populations are expanding into SOWEGA.

I spoke with Drew Zellner, a biologist with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division (GADNR WRD) regarding the likelihood of this migration actually taking place. Zellner explained that the majority of human-bear interaction takes place when bears find an unsecured food source at a camp site or garbage can. They are opportunistic feeders and are drawn to “easy” food sources.

“In some areas of south Georgia, beekeeping operations can lead to problematic interactions,” Zellner said.

He also said that it is not uncommon for bears to go outside their three traditional ranges in Georgia in spring and fall when they are looking for love and food, respectively. These semi-annual forays may account for some of the SOWEGA sightings with those in the north of the region coming from the Ocmulgee population and those to the east coming from the Okefenokee population.

Although the Florida panhandle has one of that state’s largest concentrations of black bears, the animals do not seem to readily cross into Georgia. This is somewhat surprising in light of the fact that the Apalachicola, Flint, Chattahoochee basin would seem to be a perfect corridor into SOWEGA.

“I would love to see more bears around,” Zellner said. “I’ve done bear work in other states, and I really enjoy seeing them.”

However, for Zellner, the idea of bears in SOWEGA is a love-hate concept.

“I’d love to see more bears,” he said. “But if there were more bears, there would be more bear-human interaction and that doesn’t ever bode well for the bears.”

So, for now, those of us who would like to see more bears in this region would appear to have only a fleeting chance to do so. But that chance is far greater than seeing a panther in the region. But then, that’s another story altogether.