If you have a garage or storage building that you could put the trash in until trash pick up day, that may remove the temptation for the bear. You could also purchase a device that is made to keep the trash can lid from being opened or purchase a bear proof can or an enclosure in which to put your trash cans in.

The bear is smelling where the cat food has been. Try feeding the cat in a different area (inside) and not on the porch. You can clean the area where the cat food was with bleach or ammonia to help remove the odor of the cat food.

Bears are drawn to the scent of vinyl due to the Formaldehyde used in the manufacturing process. This smells like ant larvae to a bear. They do like to eat ant larvae. Try spraying ammonia, PineSol, or bleach on the hot tub cover and cushions to mask the scent. You may even try sprinkling cayenne pepper on the hot tub cover.

Try using a bear resistant feeder that is made out of metal or sturdy material. There are feeders that have a door that closes after the feeder puts out the feed, This keeps the bear from having access to the feed. You can hang your feeder from a cable at least 10 feet high to keep bears from getting to it. (This also works for bird feeders) You can also consider using an electric fence to keep bears away from the feeder.The fence needs to put out 500 volts or more to be effective on bears.  Deer can jump a fence and still access the feeder.

You need to make bears feel unwelcome at your house by making noise when they are around. Clap your hands, yell at them, set off your car alarm, bang on a pot with a big spoon, use fireworks, or less lethal shotshell rounds to dissuade them. Let them know they are not to get comfortable around your house.

If you have chickens, rabbits, or other small animals, store the feed away from the animal's enclosure. Use containers with a locking metal ring that holds the lid shut. An electric fence is a very effective method of keeping bears and other predators away from your chickens and other livestock.

An electric fence would be the most effective deterrent for these issues. Harvest ripe fruit from trees as soon as possible and pick up and discard rotten fallen fruit around fruit trees. Don’t put food scraps in your compost bin while you have a bear visiting regularly. This is an attractant.

Bears are typically shy and usually avoid contact with humans. They are predators and are stealthy. They have a fantastic sense of smell and can detect humans from far away. They usually slip away without being seen. Bears also have a large home range and may not make their presence known to the casual observer.

People are naturally protective of their children making them worry about any potential threats like wild animals. Bears are generally not aggressive towards humans, but can become dangerous if feeling threatened or protecting their cubs. Children are easily drawn to animals, especially juvenile animals that seem to be cute and cuddly. This type of attraction could get a child in a potentially dangerous situation with a bear.

If you see a dead bear in the roadway or on the side of the road in the state of Georgia notify the county road department. The GA DNR does not come to pick up dead animals, and does not need to be notified.