8/6/2025 10:49:25 AM by Michael Koorey

LIVING WITH BENT TREE BEARS

Black bears are a major part of our mountainous, wooded community. Based on a multitude of contacts with residents and seeing the tremendous support for our orphaned cubs at the Chestatee Wildlife Preserve, it appears that Bent Tree bears are generally adored animals. Our team has found bears here to be unaggressive through our experiences with them. We have noticed that sometimes they do not scare as easily as they should, which is very likely the result of them being attracted to and made comfortable around homes. There have also been some reports of bears frequenting areas they have not in the past. This could be as simple as their travel patterns changing or intentional or negligent practices attracting them to homes in the area. It is very difficult to know without thoroughly investigating each circumstance.