Hungry Black Bears Roam Cobb County, So Be "Bear Wise" This Spring

Recent television and media reports confirm that black bears still roam some of Georgia's suburban areas. On April 30, a black bear was struck and killed on Highway 400 in Sandy Spring, partially blocking one lane of traffic on the busy road.

Black bears roam Georgia's rural and populated areas. Active in Spring, we spotted this mother and cub along a rural road.Photo byDeanLand / OurTravelCafe.com

But, are there bears roaming free in the populated cities and subdivisions or rapidly-developing outer areas in Cobb County? Based on multiple citings over recent years, the answer appears to be a resounding YES!

According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the black bear is a symbol of Georgia’s natural diversity and a great conservation success story in sound wildlife management. Nearly eradicated from Georgia in the 1930s due to unregulated hunting, illegal harvest, and large-scale habitat loss. Georgia’s black bear population is estimated at 4,100 bears statewide in 2024.

While the risk of bear encounters is low in Cobb County, bear sightings previously have been caught on video in Marietta in 2022 and in prior years, too. Bears have been reported by hikers and residents in rural West Cobb, including a spotting of a mother and cubs at Leone Price Park.

According to state wildlife department statistics, two bears -- one male and one female -- were killed on Cobb County roads in recent years. And while the bear killed in Sandy Springs was struck on a road just over the Fulton County line, some officials think it likey lived in the nearby wooded areas and wetlands along the Chattahoochee River that creates the Cobb and Fulton county lines.

We tried to stay away and give this mother bear space, but she walked near our car as evidenced by the mirror in the photo.Photo byDeanLand / OurTravelCafe.com

Georgia bears are most active in Spring, and April is a prime month for hungry bears to be out looking for food. If a bear makes an appearance near you this spring, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division encourages the adoption of "At Home BearWise Basics" to minimize any threat. Some of the top tips include:

• Never Feed or Approach Bears: Feeding bears (intentionally or unintentionally) trains them to approach homes and people for more food. Bears will defend themselves if a person gets too close, so don’t risk your safety and theirs!
• Secure Food, Garbage and Recycling: Food and food odors attract bears so don’t reward them with easily available food or garbage.
• Remove Bird Feeders When Bears Are Active: Birdseed and other grains have a high calorie content making them very attractive to bears. The best way to avoid conflicts with bears is to remove feeders.

While most Georgia bears live in the green-highlighted areas, black dots represent reported bear sightings far outside the normal home areasPhoto byGeorgia Outdoor News

For more information about the At Home BearWise Basics, see this guide issued by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division.