Bear captured after close encounter with ranger

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — A 300-pound bear found roaming a busy Cobb County neighborhood is now in a safer place.

Channel 2 Cobb County Bureau Chief Chris Jose was in Marietta, where a national Park Ranger walked him through the chase through the Hickory Walk subdivision Wednesday.

When the sun set, the bear moved from the woods to a neighborhood pool.

Ranger Anthony Winegar came face-to-face with the bear after dark.

He was the first to admit he came 12-feet too close.

"We had a quick stare-off before I backed out," Winegar said. " We had a stand-off for a second and I knew it was time for me to go. That was his spot for the moment."

Before the face-to-face encounter, Winegar tracked the bear's movements all day. Neighbors in Marietta affectionately nicknamed it "Whitlock the bear" due to his proximity to the busy road.

Brandon Land captured this video through his window.

“I ran inside. And sure enough he’s running down, coming down the hill across the street,” Land said.

The chase was on.

Winegar was equipped with a non-lethal gun that shoots bean bags, but luckily didn't have to use it.

Winegar hoped the bear would leave for Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield on its own.

The Department of Natural Resources was able to tranquilize the bear around 11 p.m. Officials did a full examination on him and he is healthy and wasn't hurt.

The bear has been relocated to the North Georgia mountains.

Cox Media Group