Drivers are being warned by a north Georgia sheriff’s office that bear sightings may increase as the weather warms.
According to reports, early Friday morning in Toccoa, a woman collided with a bear at the intersection of Prather Bridge Road and Lake Louise Road.
A bear that was hurt was attempting to scale an embankment close to the scene of the accident, prompting numerous people to phone 911 a few hours later.
The 300-pound bear was found to have serious, potentially fatal injuries by deputies and rangers from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
Bears go into fight-or-flight mode when they are hurt, and if they are unable to flee when they feel threatened, they will likely attack, according to ranger T.R. Dooley.
A DNR ranger used his duty weapon to euthanize the bear for the sake of public safety and the bear’s humanity.
“Someone could have been seriously hurt if the bear stayed alive in the condition it was in,” said Ranger Dooley.
To keep bears away from your house, Dooley advises making sure that all possible exterior food sources, such as trash, pet food, and bird seed, are securely fastened.
Call 911 if you see a bear so that rangers and deputies can protect the people.
