Georgia is home to a thriving population of American black bears (Ursus americanus), the only bear species found within the state. Thanks to dedicated wildlife management efforts, their population has recovered significantly, now estimated at around 5,100 individuals statewide.
Black Bears Across Georgia
Black bears in Georgia are primarily concentrated in three distinct geographical regions. The largest population resides in the mountainous terrain of North Georgia, including the Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountains. These bears often extend their range into neighboring states.
A separate, isolated population inhabits Central Georgia, primarily within the Ocmulgee River drainage system south of Macon. The third significant population is located in Southeast Georgia, centered in and around the Okefenokee Swamp.
Beyond these core regions, transient bears, particularly young males, can roam widely to establish new territories. This can lead to sightings in unexpected parts of the state, including urbanized areas, often driven by the search for food or new habitat.
Bear Habitats and Behavior
Black bears thrive in diverse environments across Georgia, favoring dense forested areas, swamps, and mountainous terrain that offer ample cover and food sources. Den sites can include hollow trees, brush piles, or rock crevices, offering protection during denning periods.
Black bears are omnivorous; their diet varies and adapts with the seasons. During spring and summer, they primarily eat plants, insects, and soft mast like berries. In fall, they focus on hard mast such as acorns and nuts, consuming large quantities to build fat reserves for winter.
While typically more active at dawn and dusk, bears can forage at any time, depending on food availability. They may venture into human-populated areas when natural food sources are scarce or when attracted by easily accessible human-provided foods. This includes garbage, pet food, and birdseed, which can lead to conflicts.
Coexisting with Bears
Living safely alongside black bears requires understanding their behavior and taking preventative measures to minimize conflicts. A primary step is to eliminate readily available food attractants around homes and campsites. This means securing garbage in bear-resistant containers, avoiding leaving pet food outdoors, and removing bird feeders during active bear seasons.
If a bear is sighted, remain calm and avoid running, as this can trigger a chase response. Instead, make yourself appear as large as possible, make noise, and slowly back away. If a black bear approaches or makes physical contact, fighting back aggressively is the recommended response. Never intentionally feed bears, as this can habituate them to humans and lead to dangerous situations for both bears and people.