Courtesy photo Trail cameras set up in a specific area on post caught not only whitetail deer but a lot of other animals, to include gopher tortoises, foxes, squirrel, rabbits, coyote and a black bear. Much of Fort Gordon’s 56,000 acres is uninhabited – by human beings, that is.

“We were doing a whitetail deer population estimate,” said Paul Grimes, a wildlife biologist.

As part of the estimate which was conducted over 15 days in September and October, trail cameras were set up in a specific area on post; not only were whitetail deer caught on camera, a lot of other animals were too including gopher tortoises, foxes, squirrel, rabbits, coyote and a black bear.

In June, a black bear roaming through Columbia County neighborhoods made headlines as residents feared for their children and animals.

Steve Camp, also a wildlife biologist, said the sighting of the black bear on post is not uncommon.

“It’s a good habitat for black bear,” said Camp, who added there has been evidence of black bears in the wooded areas on post. Tracks and even the skull of a bear have been found.

“Bears are lazy. They eat nuts, berries, whatever’s available,” said Grimes.

And in uninhabited areas on post, there is plenty for a black bear to eat.

Bears are usually found in the northern parts of Georgia and sometimes in the swamps of south Georgia, but young males tend to roam to find a territory of their own, away from other male bears.

There are several images of a black bear on the trail cameras. There was a corn pile near the cameras to draw animals in for photographing. One photograph shows the bear making itself at home in the corn pile.

Grimes said he wasn’t positive, but the animal captured several different times could be two bears not just one.