Georgia wildlife officials responded to more than a dozen calls last weekend about an unusual bear sighting—one involving a plastic pretzel container and a curious young bear.
The juvenile bear was spotted with the clear plastic container stuck on its head, prompting over 15 calls from concerned residents. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) dispatched a biologist and a wildlife technician to investigate.
The team was able to safely capture the bear, remove the container, and release it back into the wild, unharmed, the agency said.
In another recent incident, WRD officials in Jasper responded to a report of a deer with a PVC pipe around its neck. A team of biologists responded to help.
“It took a couple of tries, but biologists were able to safely sedate the deer and cut the pipe off its neck,” DNR said. “Other than some hair loss, the deer was no worse for (the) “wear-ing!”
Officials say incidents such as these serve as important reminders that even small items can pose serious dangers to wildlife. They urge anyone who notices sick or injured wildlife to contact them. The number for WRD is 1-800-366-2661.
Also, residents living near forests and other natural areas are encouraged to become
BearWise
—a regional initiative that promotes securing trash and recyclables to help keep bears and communities safe.
For more information, visit
bearwise.org
or
Appalachia Georgia Friends of the Bears
online.
