PICKENS COUNTY, Ga. — A Pickens County community is concerned about the safety of several bear cubs after their mother was shot and killed.
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources confirmed that its law enforcement division is investigating the mother bear’s death.
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Neighbors in the Bent Tree community shared videos of the cubs climbing the trees. Their mother was killed sometime last week.
“We are actively attempting to get a current location on the cubs to coordinate with DNR,” Bent Tree neighborhood safety director Michael Koorey told Channel 2 Action News on Monday.
The cubs were last seen around 3 p.m. Monday in the Oglethorpe Mountain area.
People who live in the Bent Tree community received the following message:
“Do not feed the bears. We understand this is tempting, but it will greatly reduce their chances of surviving as wild bears. Do not actively search for them. They essentially need to be left alone and not accustomed to people in their area.”
Cub sightings can be reported by calling 770-893-2628.
The Georgia DNR said if wildfire officers have to capture the cubs, it will look into taking them to an approved facility for rehabilitation.
Officials have not said what led to the mother bear’s death.
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