A man in Forsyth County says a black bear has visited his home a couple of times recently. The bear was seen near Sawnee Mountain off State Route 306. Photos courtesy of Mark Hitchcock. FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – A Forsyth County homeowner had a surprise visitor in his backyard — and apparently, the black bear liked the neighborhood enough to come back for a second look. Mark Hitchcock said he was inside his home near Sawnee Mountain off Highway 306 when he looked outside and spotted the bear in his backyard. Hitchcock grabbed his camera and took several pictures of the animal. It wasn't his first encounter with the bear. Hitchcock said the same bear visited his property a few days earlier and got into a new bird feeder. After the latest sighting, Hitchcock contacted the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. He said he was advised to leave the animal alone with the hope that it would eventually move on. "Keep the picnic baskets up until the coast is clear," Hitchcock joked. The advice about removing potential food sources is consistent with DNR's recommendations for homeowners who find themselves sharing their neighborhood with a black bear. Georgia DNR says bears that find easy meals around homes can return repeatedly and may become increasingly comfortable around people. Birdseed is particularly attractive because of its high calorie content. Wildlife officials recommend taking down bird feeders when bears are active in an area. DNR estimates Georgia has about 4,100 black…
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