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DNR Mitch Yeargin Educates About Spike in Bears in City of Jasper

391 views · Published 2 August 2011 · 12:38 · Indexed 26 September 2026

Channel: KnowPickens · 2011 · Pets & Animals

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Mitch Yeargin with DNR attended the Jasper City Council Meeting to educate on the increase of bear sightings within the city limits.  While on call last weekend, he answered 28 calls about bears with eighty percent from Pickens County.   Mr. Yeargin explained why there is an increase in sightings, precautions to keep them away and that they mean no harm.
The bears are looking for easy food and typically a young male, a year and a half old, trying to find his niche in the world after being forced down the mountains by larger bears.   Another problem is food shortage because of the overlapping habitats of males and mothers with her cubs.  
Mr. Yeargin stressed not to feed the bears because it will cause them to lose their natural fear of humans.  He suggested putting up your trash and pet food at night when the bears or more active, and bird feeders until November.   
There are no known bear attacks on humans in Georgia.  Mr. Yeargin stated bears have poor eyesight and hearing and the only thing they have going for them is their sense of smell.  If you walk up to them in the woods, and they stand on their hind legs, it's to smell and not to attack.   Once the bear smells a human it will run away unless he's been fed and habituated with humans.

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