parks
Bear spotted in Sandy Springs neighborhood
By Alex Jones at WSB-TV (ABC) - News
· July 16, 2026
· 1 min read
A Sandy Springs family got a bit of a scare when their security cameras caught a bear walking through the backyard.Video shared with Channel 2 Action News shows the bear near a home on Angus Trail earlier this week.Luckily, nothing was damaged and no one was injured.[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News ap...
Key takeaway [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]Earlier this week, Channel 2’s Michael Seiden reported a sighting of a young black bear in a Smyrna neighborhood.
Why this matters in The Atlanta
The sighting of a bear in a Sandy Springs neighborhood is a stark reminder that Atlanta 's suburbs are increasingly intersecting with wildlife habitats. As the city's population grows, residential areas are expanding into former wilderness, bringing humans and animals into closer proximity. This trend is not unique to Sandy Springs, as evidenced by the recent bear sighting in a Smyrna neighborhood. The fact that both incidents occurred in backyard settings suggests that bears are becoming more comfortable venturing into urban areas in search of food or shelter. Residents in these areas should be aware of their surroundings and take precautions to secure trash and pet food, which can attract wildlife. The city's parks and recreation departments may also need to reassess their strategies for managing wildlife in urban areas to prevent future encounters.
About this story
Original reporting by WSB-TV (ABC) - News . The Atlanta surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit WSB-TV (ABC) - News . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: parks ·
Published: July 16, 2026 ·
Source: WSB-TV (ABC) - News ·
Reading time: 1 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? A Sandy Springs family got a bit of a scare when their security cameras caught a bear walking through the backyard.Video shared with Channel 2 Action News shows the bear near a home on Angus Trail earlier this week.Luckily, nothing was damaged and no one was injured.[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News ap...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 16, 2026 by WSB-TV (ABC) - News and curated for The Atlanta readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Alex Jones at WSB-TV (ABC) - News. To learn more about how The Atlanta selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more parks coverage from The Atlanta, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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