Jessica Klinkenberg
Northern News Services
Wednesday, May 16, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - Bears emerging from hibernation will be coming out in better shape than usual, says a wildlife expert.

"It was a mild winter, so the bears didn't use as much energy," said Raymond Bourget, senior renewable resource officer with Environment and Natural Resources. "The bears should be coming out in good shape."

Bourget said the late autumn allowed the bears to eat more, making it unlikely they would wake up hungry or desperate for food. However, this doesn't mean that bears aren't dangerous, Bourget added.

Bourget said people should still try to prevent bear encounters by travelling in groups and talking or singing while in the woods. Making noise warns bears that people are coming.

"The key is to prevent an encounter," he said.

Bourget said bear whistles and bear bells also work, but not as well as human voices.

"Bears are very timid," Bourget said. As long as bears don't associate humans with food, they will avoid contact.

Male bears are more likely to come out of hibernation first - in late April or early May. Bourget said they're likely already out and about, though there have been no sightings near Yellowknife.

Female bears will leave their dens in mid-May, depending on how rapidly the snow melts.

According to Bourget's records, last year no bears had to be killed.

Bears become nuisances when they begin associating humans with food, and lose their timidity he said.

Bourget said bears that wander too close to town and are strong and healthy are tagged and released away from Yellowknife.

The electric fence around the dump also helps keep bears away from the city, Bourget said.

He encouraged campers to store their food properly and clean up their camp sites when they leave.

"Most of our bear problems occur when people mess up," he said.