UPDATED: Columbia County Bear Sightings: Day Five

Name the Bear: Visit Visit Name The Bearto vote on the bear’s name. The winning name will be announced during our Friday, June 19th, 6:00 p.m. newscast.

12:15 p.m. UPDATE, on June 19th, from Columbia County EMA Director Pam Tucker: We received two calls at 11:47 a.m. from citizens who saw the bear in the vicinity of Old Washington Road and Clanton Road. He had to cross Washington Road…and is moving west.

11:30 a.m. UPDATE, on June 19th, from Columbia County EMA Director Pam Tucker: A citizen reported a bear sighting on Mitchell Lane, off of Riverwood Parkway. The bear was seen in this area at 10:50 a.m. This is the first reported sighting since Wednesday night at 10:30 p.m.

3:00 p.m. UPDATE, on June 18th, from Columbia County EMA Director Pam Tucker: A map has been created by the Columbia County GIS Department to show where the bear has been sighted. Click here to view a Columbia County bear sightings map
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7:45 a.m. UPDATE, on June 18th, from Columbia County EMA Director Pam Tucker:

“We had a report this morning from a citizen who told us that the bear was spotted on McCladdie Drive, in King Villa (in Appling), at 10:30 p.m. last night. Maybe by the end of today, he will be well on his way to his destination.“

6:45 p.m. UPDATE, from WJBF News Channel 6’s Fraendy Clervaud:

Evans, GA—-Joe Pravato spent the day fishing on the lake inside the Woodbridge subdivision. But he wasn’t only looking for game but for a black bear.

Joe Pravato, Columbia County, GA: “I heard about it, in the morning. I was looking, but didn’t see it.“

Columbia County animal control officers have been on the hunt for this black bear since the beginning of June. Officials say he seems to like the lake area. Columbia County EMA Director Pam Tucker says there’s no need to worry about the bear.

Pam Tucker, Columbia County EMA Director: “This bear is not out to hurt anybody. I think it’s just unnerving for some people. Let’s face it. it’s very unique for this area.”

Current sightings of the furry friend include both Woodbridge and the Silver Lake subdivisions along Washington Road.

Fraendy Clervaud, reporting: “Officials say it’s common to have a bear sightings around this time of the year. They believe this two-year old male black bear is either trying to make it to Macon, or Gainesville, GA. But, he seems to have lost his way.“

Wednesday morning, Animal Control, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, and DNR tried to find the bear and tranquilize it.

Pam Tucker: “Tranquillizer is going to be the best way and you do have to wait till he goes up on a tree because if you don’t and you tranquilize him it doesn’t take immediate effect and he’ll run off and then in the woods, somewhere, and goes to sleep. We wont be able to find him.”

We talked to some folks in the neighborhood who had no idea a bear was in town. Some say he’s not welcome here.

Martha Shuman: “That’s kind of scary…my son is taking care of my neighbors’ dogs, my kids walk to the pool, back every day, that’s a little scary.“

10:45 a.m. UPDATE, from Columbia County EMA Director Pam Tucker: The bear is currently in a wooded area between Cummings Road and Silverlake Drive…between Silverlake and Woodbridge.

DNR officials are on scene with Animal Care & Control and Columbia County Sheriff’s Office officials.  We haven’t had an actual sighting in the last hour so and DNR advises that the bear is probably hunkered down in the woods taking a rest.

The possibility that there may be two bears in the area cannot be ruled out.  Both DNR and 3-1-1 have had reports of bear sightings in the Grovetown area this week.  That is also the location of the first sighting by a county employee on June 4th. Tuesday, we had a report on Hamilton Road and DNR had reports in the Wrightsboro Road area in Grovetown. Time will tell on that. 

Columbia County, GA. - A black bear is making tracks in Columbia County, Wednesday.

The animal was first spotted shortly after 7:00 a.m., Wednesday morning by a resident who lives on Woodberry Drive, in the Northwood Subdivision.

A second bear sighting was reported around 8:00 a.m. near the Woodbridge Subdivision. A resident said she saw the bear crossing Rocky Branch Lane, heading toward the Evans Wal-mart. By 8:30 a.m., the animal had moved to Plantation Hills Drive. At 9:30 Thursday morning, Columbia County EMA Director Pam Tucker announced that the bear had eluded officials on Rocky Branch Court, running through the woods. At last word, the animal was in the Silver Lake Subdivision.

Earlier this week, a black bear, presumably the same one seen Wednesday, was spotted in other Columbia County neighborhoods.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources has authoritized Columbia County Animal Care & Control to use a tranquilizer gun on the bear, if an officer can get close enough.

Count on WJBF News Channel 6 for the latest updates on the location of the bear.