Bear spotted outside Atlanta-area hotel

Call it, #‎DunwoodyBearWatch, police say.

It's the third time in 24 hours that a bear has been spotted in the area. Dunwoody is a region of Atlanta heavily populated with corporate headquarters and business travelers.

Staff at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Atlanta Perimeter at Ravinia spotted the furry creature roaming the area around 4:30 a.m. Friday.

"It apparently walked near the front doors valet area and then ran off toward 285," according to a post on the police department's Facebook page.

Dunwoody police Officer Tim Fecht previously told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution a resident reported a bear in her backyard. A patrol officer spotted and then lost sight of the bear on Old Spring House Lane.

A short time later, the officer spotted a bear that he thought was a second one based on its size, Fecht said.

In both cases, the bear or bears retreated to a wooded, grassy area near Chamblee-Dunwoody Road and Intestate 285 after officers arrived with flashing blue lights and sirens, he said.

“If you do spot the bears,” according to the latest Facebook post, “be sure to stay clear and call 911 immediately.”

Police are trying to corner them until rangers from the Department of Natural Resources arrive.

— Staff writer Steve Visser contributed to this article.