Citizens, Police Sight Bear In Downtown, Bear Killed On Bypass
By RNW Reporter Hayden Jennings
The City of Rome has its share of wildlife, but it isn’t usual that a Black Bear is sighted in the city as one has been throughout the evening late Wednesday into Early Thursday Morning.
The first report came into 911 around 10:20 PM after a driver stated he was traveling down E. Main St. near Glover St. or near Watkin’s Auto Sales. The caller stated the bear came out of the woods and ran down the street a little ways before he lost sight of the bear.
Then, at around 11:10 PM, yet another call came into 911 stating that a man wanted to meet with officers and report he had seen the bear in the area of East Glover St. and North Blanche Ave, in the neighborhood just north of where the first sighting was reported.
The third report came in from the area of E. 2nd Ave. at United Community Bank. This sighting prompted several callers to call in to 911. With this report, the bear has now crossed the Etowah River and is headed into the Downtown Area.
Shortly after the E. 2nd Ave. sightings, Police who had saturated the Between The Rivers District downtown, saw the bear in the area of Clocktower Hill and chased it briefly before loosing it. Officers who pursued the bear stated that it was large, weighing several hundred pounds. At that point, Police contacted DNR to make them aware of them situation.
Shortly after 2:00 AM, the final report stated that a bear was struck and killed by a vehicle in the area of Martha Berry Highway at GA Loop 1. Officers say it does appear that the bear killed was the same bear spotted in South Rome and Downtown.
It is generally common this time of year to see Black Bears as they roam looking for food, even in cities. Two weeks ago a bear was hit and killed on Interstate 75 at Barret Pkwy. in Kennesaw. The bear was crossing the bridge and the impact knocked it onto the sidewalk below.
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