North Fulton Today

Reports of bear sightings began circulating in neighboring communities this week, and since all bears know "It's Betta in The Retta," we expect the first bear sighting in Alpharetta any day now.

For those new to Alpharetta, it may come as a surprise that our community is visited by one or two bears around this time each year. These are typically young animals who have become old enough to find a territory of their own, and the creeks, streams, and web of wooded areas that lace Alpharetta and surrounding communities are inviting passages as they seek new habitat.

The animals are unlikely to be a threat to anyone unless people approach or provoke them, so please don’t be that person who tries to take a selfie with a bear or get an up-close video. We do, however, recommend that you make noise while walking on the Greenway or in wooded areas so any bear that may be in the area knows you are coming and has time to leave.

In the words of "It's Betta in The Retta," bears are like college students home for the summer, anything that could be food draws them in. Therefore, it is advised to never feed bears, remove bird feeders from around your home for a few weeks, do not leave pet food outside, clean your grill after each use, and secure your garbage and recycling containers.

For more information on living with bears, visit www.bearwise.org.