Bear Spotted in Kennesaw Neighborhood

ATLANTA - A black bear has been spotted twice in less than 24 hours in one Kennesaw neighborhood. Both times he was found feasting in people's backyards.

One black bear didn't want to stick around long enough for his close up. He got his meal and he was out.

And it's not the first visit to the Craven family's Kennesaw home.

"I came out and looked and I thought I would literally pass out, that bear's head was that big," said resident Perrie Ann Craven.

It was the family dog who first spotted the bear in the middle of a meal.

The family tossed out their leftover boiled peanuts and the bear was just lounging enjoying a meal

Scott Craven sat down and watched as the bear made himself at home.

"Just plopped down, comfortable – [the bear] didn't pay me no attention, said Scott Craven.

Perrie Ann Craven said she "frightened to death and I tell you I am going to be scared to come out early in the morning when its dark."

Sunday night on the other side of some nearby woods less than a mile away, the Fields family shot video of the bear in their backyard.

"He had climbed over our fence and got in the trash cans. When we pulled up there was the bear, feasting on our birdfeeder," said Mark Fields.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources said right now young male bears are out searching for their own territory and anytime you leave pet food lying around that's going to attract them

"That is the culprit that's been eating my cat food and water for my cats," Perrie Craven said.

But the DNR said if you keep the food inside, young bears will eventually head back to their traditional stomping grounds.

Bears have also been spotted in Ackworth and Troup county in the past week.

The DNR said all are young males looking for new territory.