Police Report Increase in Bear, Coyote Sightings in Johns Creek

According to the Johns Creek Police Department, there has been an increase in reports of wild animals in neighborhoods, including bear, coyotes and deer.

Just a few weeks ago Patch reported an incident involving a coyote. A Johns Creek teen and her dog were startled one evening when the wild animal jumped out of a nearby bush and attacked her dog.

And in October, a report of three bears roaming through a Forsyth neighborhood off of McGinnis Road made the evening news as  an 11Alive News helicopter caught the family of bears on film.

A Google search shows that bear sightings is a frequent occurrence all up and down the east coast. But having wild bears and coyotes in your back yard should not be taken lightly.

The National Park service has a strong warning posted on its website: Warning: Bears are wild animals that are dangerous and unpredictable. Do not approach bears or allow them to approach you! Do not feed bears!

Coyotes, which have moved eastward over the years, are now frequently spotted in Georgia - and in many neighborhoods.

According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, among the non-native wildlife found throughout the southeast, coyotes are unique in their ability to rapidly acclimate to a variety of habitats. 

"With the extirpation of the red wolf in the last century across Georgia, the coyote has been able to fill a once occupied void and now can be found statewide." Coyotes, it seems, are opportunistic and will eat anything from nuts and berries to the neighborhood pet. 

The Johns Creek Police Department offers the following advice for residents.

If you encounter wildlife, the most important thing to remember is to keep your distance. If the animals feel threatened, they could act aggressively with unfortunate results for you and the animal.

The City will not trap wild animals, but the state Georgia Wildlife Resources Division has a list of licensed trappers. The best way to make wild critters go away is to remove what attracted them in the first place - usually food.

• Secure garbage cans inside a garage or other enclosed area.
• Place garbage cans at the curb the day of pick-up rather than the night before.
• Clean grills when not in use, keep pet food indoors or feed pets indoors, and refill bird feeders infrequently and in small amounts.
• Rinse food cans and wrappers before disposal. Keep garbage cans clean and deodorize them periodically.
• Take pets inside at night. If pets must be outside, install fencing and motion-activated flood lights to discourage predators.