Remains found yesterday about 12 miles outside Cartersville in Bartow County were not those of a human, authorities say.

Bartow County Sheriff's Office deputies about 3 p.m. were called to 55 Hardin Bridge Road to assist a Kingston Police Department officer secure a scene possibly containing human remains.

The officer contacted the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, but no human remains were found, according to a Kingston police officer who answered the phone.

"It turned out to be bear paws," he said.

Bears are typically found in three areas of the state, including the north Georgia mountains, but young males roam large areas to establish their territories, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Called a healthy population, there are about 5,100 bears in Georgia.