Oglethorpe County, like the rest of Northeast Georgia, is marked by diverse wildlife. Some are our friends — and others less so.
Among the creatures to keep an eye out for, coyotes rank high on that list.
Georgia is one of many states around the country where coyotes have used their strong adaptation skills to foster a stable habitat.
“They can be a concern if you have small dogs or cats, but they’re usually not a problem,” said Phillip Nelson, a game warden who patrols Oglethorpe County and surrounding areas.
Nelson noted a pair of bobcat incidents in the county last October.
Bobcats are elusive and less abundant than coyotes, said Nelson, who recently spent a week patrolling land near the recreation department in search of a reported aggressive bobcat, but to no avail.
Foxes are prevalent and often find themselves using houses as protection to hide cubs from predators.
Hunters in wooded areas should be especially wary of boars, said Brandon Colquitt, an Oglethorpe County resident who has hunted in the area since his early teens.
“The males can sometimes be aggressive,” he said. “I’ve only been charged one time, and it was when I had gotten between a bunch of little piglets and the mother.”
While some animals pose a threat to humans and pets, others convey their negative influence in a more destructive manner.
As winters in the South have softened, armadillos have become more common in northern parts of Georgia.
“Armadillos will tear up your yard,” Nelson said. “They cause a lot of problems, and they’re about blind, so a lot of times they get close to people and they don’t even realize it.”
Raccoons and opossums are ever present and also pose similar challenges to Oglethorpe County property owners.
The most common calls made to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources during the summer are those concerned about fallen fawns, Nelson said.
Instead of calling, property owners should wait for the arrival of the mother, which is likely nearby.
Residents can expect to see turkeys wandering around the county, but their population has suffered a noticeable decline the past few decades.
Locals should also keep their eyes on the sky, as Georgia is home to a growing population of bald eagles. In 2023, nests around the state included 232 young eagles.
“We actually have a decent population of bald eagles in Oglethorpe County — three different nests of eagles I believe,” Nelson said.