GROVETOWN, Ga. — A Grovetown homeowner got a surprise early Saturday morning when a black bear roamed through his backyard.
Anthony Jowers, who lives between Red Bud Drive and Sugar Creek Drive near Lewiston Road, said the bear strolled through around 3 a.m. Saturday, knocked down his bird feeder and ate the bird seed.
Jowers runs an outdoor camera business and captured the bear on video. He said he has seen many animals in his backyard through the years, but never a bear.
“In my backyard, I have several cameras monitoring a salt lick. I see mostly deer but I occasionally see foxes, bobcats, coyotes, squirrels, birds of prey, possums, I mean you name it,” Jowers said. “And I thought I’d never be surprised until I saw a bear. And that makes me a little nervous about going out at night.”
Bear walked past neighbors in hot tub
The bear walked around a salt lick Jowers has out to attract deer before going straight for the bird feeder. Jowers said his neighbors were in their hot tub when the bear passed through, but didn’t see it.
The bear came within 50 feet of his back door, Jowers said.
This isn’t the first time this has happened. Last year, there were sightings in Augusta and North Augusta.
Maj. Andy Shedd with the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office said his agency gets reports of bear sightings every other year or every few years.
He said deputies would call the Georgia Department of Natural Resources if the bear was trapped in someone’s yard or traveling down the road.
Shedd said if you see a bear, keep your distance and don’t interfere.
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