He toured some of Columbia County's finest subdivisions, sipped from birdbaths and posed for photos near a backyard swing set.

Then, as suddenly as he appeared, a young black bear that migrated through the area was gone.

Animal control authorities spent much of the day Monday fielding reports of a bear that skirted neighborhoods including Watervale, West Lake, Stevens Pointe and Barrington.

"This bear sounds scared and is trying to find his way -- most likely towards Gainesville or Macon," Emergency Services Director Pam Tucker said. "That's where our two closest bear populations are."

Based on photos taken by residents as the bear made its way through Evans, the animal was likely a juvenile -- about 2 years old and about 150 pounds.

Although it generated lots of interest among residents, it didn't bother anyone or cause any damage, other than trying to enter a garage along Watervale Road, Mrs. Tucker said.

Although some reports identified the bear as a small cub, experts say it is unlikely a female with young would visit the Augusta area.

"Most likely, we are dealing with a solitary young male that, at some point, got kicked out of its home range, and he is wandering around the state looking to find his own home range," said Georgia Wildlife Resources Division biologist I.B. Parnell of the division's Thomson field office.

Black bears routinely wander throughout the state during late spring and early summer, so it is not unusual to spot one outside its normal habitat range.

"We usually have several in this area every year, and right about this time of year," Mr. Parnell said. "But we have never recorded a female with cubs in this area. All the ones we've seen are the typical young males, usually in the 150-pound category."

Wildlife authorities were not actively searching for the bear, in hopes that -- if left alone -- it would continue on its way without requiring intervention.

"Trailing a bear by car or on foot is just not a good idea," Mr. Parnell said. "At this point we're trying to keep everyone out of the way, and another truck from our agency would just complicate the situation."

Anyone who sees the bear should stay away from it, Mrs. Tucker said.

"This bear is not looking to hurt anyone. He's made some sort of a loop looking for a new territory where other bears are close by. It won't find that here -- and if we get out of the way -- he will find his way where he needs to be. DNR strongly advises just leaving it alone at this point."

Monday's sighting was the third of a bear in the area this month.

On June 3, a Columbia County employee on her way to work saw a bear in a field as she drove down Baker Place Road from Wrightsboro Road. She stopped her car and watched as the bear crossed the road in front of her, moving toward Grovetown. There were no subsequent reported sightings.

Two days earlier, residents in Savannah Lakes Village along Thurmond Lake in McCormick County, S.C., reported a bear traveling through their neighborhoods.

Some bears that have visited the Augusta area have traveled long distances.

On June 23 of last year, a wandering bear was tranquilized by wildlife authorities after it climbed a tree at a children's camp on Mike Padgett Highway in south Augusta. The bear was traced to Florida, where it had been captured and moved to a wilderness region near Tallahassee.

After its capture in Augusta, it was taken to U.S. Forest Service land near Helen, Ga.

It ended up in Alabama, where it was shot and killed in mid-August by police who said they didn't have a tranquilizer device.

Reach Rob Pavey at (706) 868-1222, ext. 119, or rob.pavey@augustachronicle.com.