As the weather warms, sightings of multiple types of wildlife potentially increase. This could include black bears that might be seen in or around your neighborhood this spring and summer, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division.

  If left alone, bears typically will return to established bear range – the north Georgia mountains, the Ocmulgee River drainage system in central Georgia or the Okefenokee Swamp in the southeastern part of the state. However, even as wild land and urban areas increasingly overlap, bear range likely will continue to expand – meaning even more sightings are possible.

  Where do these bears come from?

  In most cases, the bears found outside of established range are young male bears looking for their own territory as they are no longer under the protection of a sow (i.e. the “mother” bear). However, in some cases it might be sows with cubs or other mature bears that have ventured into new territory in search of food.

  KEEPING BEARS OUT OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND YARDS

  While there is no way to prevent a bear from wandering into a neighborhood, there are ways to discourage it from staying:

  * Never feed a bear. Keep items such as grills, pet food and bird feeders off-limits to bears. Clean and store grills when not in use. Keep pet food indoors and take down bird feeders (April-November) if bears frequent your area.

  * Use “bear-proof” garbage containers, or store garbage in the garage or other enclosed area until the morning of pick-up day. Properly securing food and garbage prevents bears from accessing these non-natural, human-provided food sources, and helps avoid the unhealthy process of habituation that occurs when bears obtain food from people and begin associating humans with food.

  If a bear is sighted in your neighborhood, here are some tips on how to respond:

  * Leave all bears alone. Usually they are only passing through an area.

  * Stay a safe distance away. Do not try to approach a bear.

  * Never, under any circumstances, intentionally feed a bear.

  * Never attempt to ‘tree’ or corner a bear as it compromises the safety and welfare of both the public and the bear.

  “Unless there is evidence of aggressive behavior or habituation to people, there is no cause for alarm,” said Adam Hammond, state bear biologist with the Wildlife Resources Division.

  The black bear is a symbol of Georgia’s natural diversity, the only bear found in the state and a high-priority species in the state’s Wildlife Action Plan, a comprehensive conservation strategy. Though now considered the most common bear in North America, the species was nearly eradicated from Georgia in the 1930s due to unregulated market hunting, poaching and large-scale habitat loss. Sound wildlife management practices have restored Georgia’s black bears to a thriving population estimated at 5,100 bears statewide.

  Black bears may legally be hunted during the season, which occurs each fall in Georgia in certain areas (www.georgiawildlife.com/hunting/regulations). However, the taking of bears during any other time of the year or the taking of bears illegally during the hunting season is called poaching. Prevent poaching of bears by reporting any illegal activity. Information can be reported by email, phone or in person. Visit www.georgiawildlife.com/enforcement/turn-in-poachers for details.

  For more information regarding black bears, visit www.georgiawildlife.com/blackbearfacts or contact a Wildlife Resources Division game management office. The public also can visit their local library to check out a copy of an informational DVD entitled, “Where Bears Belong: Black Bears in Georgia.” Additionally, a video is available at www.youtube.com/GeorgiaWildlife , click on “Videos” to find the title “Nuisance Wildlife in Georgia.”

  Once upon a time long, long ago, I had a pet skunk named ‘Peanuts’.

  How did I find myself with this little friend? My dad Howard Germann was an avid outdoorsman. As a little girl he was my hero; times were more simple then and my entertainment was to listen to the stories of the adventures that he and his buddies enjoyed in the outdoors.

  At one time they came across a family of orphaned baby skunks. Is was not uncommon in those days to deodorize the babies and have them become pets, much like a cat, and have them around the farming properties to act in a similar manner to having cats and to ward off strangers!

  In our case we lived in the village and that was a bit different. My mother, Ophelia, who was the more refined partner in the marriage was not happy about having Peanuts in our home so my dad built a little house with a cage for Peanuts out in the yard. He had a little collar like a puppy would have to identify him.

  One fond memory I have of Peanuts was during the annual Homecoming parade. It was awhile back but I think it was around 1950. My dad, my grandpa Otto and some of their hunting buddies and I rode on a float during the parade along with Peanuts, a hunting dog or two and Percy Muskopf’s pet skunk. In fact the Millstadt Historical Society 2016 calendar has a picture of us during the parade for the month of September.

  My dad was always full of fun! He filled a plastic water pistol with some of his sister’s, my Aunt Fern’s perfume. She was the more glamourous member of the family. During the parade he held Peanuts on his lap and hid the water pistol under him. He would squirt the parade watchers along the way and had fun watching their expressions!

  Aunt Fern was standing next to a lady who had been squirted. Legend has it Aunt Fern heard the lady say “Pew! Did you smell that skunk?!” I can only imagine the expression on Aunt Fern’s face when she heard that comment knowing the lady was smelling her perfume!

  I’m sad to say that somebody stole my little pet one day and he was never returned but the memories of Peanuts remain with me.