SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Two black bear sightings were reported over the weekend, and authorities say it was probably the same bear passing through.

"It would be that time of year," said Judy Mclinton, manager of public affairs and communications for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

"There were just two over the weekend - one that was reported at the old Con Mine site, and one out by Stanton (Territorial Hospital). By the time our officers got there, (the bear) had already moved on," said Mclinton.

Constable Kathy Law said the RCMP was notified of the sighting near the hospital at about 8 p.m. Friday night, but when six police officers arrived the bear had already left.

"The bear was last observed going into the bushes near the fuel tanks on Old Airport Road across from the Co-op," said Law.

"We haven't received further sightings since then."

The bear is assumed to have just been passing through the city, according to Raymond Bourget, the senior wildlife officer for the North Slave region.

"Typically what the bears do is they either come in from the north, so from the Ski Club area, following the shoreline, hit town and try to get past town - or they'll come from the other way, from the Con side and they hit town, and they're bound and determined to get past town," said Bourget.

"The way the town's set up, the green spaces actually tend to funnel them into town," Bourget continued.

"They come along and they come to the end of a green space, and they see another green space which is the Frame Lake area, and they dash across roads to get into that green space. They travel through there and they continue on."

Bourget said bears hardly ever hang around town.

"If you do encounter a bear, just stop, and again in most cases as soon as they become aware of you they'll leave," said Bourget.

"Start talking if you haven't been, and they're going to leave. Slowly back up, go back the way you came, and contact our office. An officer will then check out the area."

As the Frame Lake Trail is a popular spot for dog-walking, Bourget said pets should be kept close to their owners.

"The potential is there (for a dog to aggravate a bear), particularly if the dog is off-leash or on a long leash. If they're on leash and kept close to their owner, then generally if they're not going to aggravate the situation - but they're free, certainly they can, or if they're on a very long leash they could."

The best way to avoid the bears as they traverse through Yellowknife, he insisted, is to make lots of noise. If the bears hear you, they should be gone by the time you get to where they were.