Yellowknife (May 05/06) - With one grizzly sighting at Campbell Lake and a black bear spotted in the Dogrib region, senior wildlife officer Raymond Bourget says hikers around Yellowknife should be vigilant.

"Every year we have bears in town, but nothing has been reported so far," he said of local bear activity.

"If you do see one near the community, stay away from it, take note of where it is and report it to us immediately."

Bourget said anytime after mid-April is when the animals start to emerge from their dens. Preventative action should be taken in order to avoid an unwanted encounter.

"To begin with, maintain a clean campsite and make noise when walking in the bush and they'll generally avoid you," said Bourget.

At the City of Yellowknife solid waste facility, perhaps the first stop for any bear looking for an easy meal, facility manager Bruce Underhay says he hasn't spotted any yet.

"(A bear near the dump) is always a possibility, but we haven't seen any this year so far," said Bruce Underhay. "But we get very few now because they installed an electric fence in 2000 and we haven't had a bear in the landfill in the last two or three years."

For those interested in learning more about what to do if you encounter a bear, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources offers a free two-hour course that instructs participants on the correct usage of bear deterrents, such as bear bangers and bear spray.

"We encourage people to take the course we offer them and there are some private companies as well," said Bourget.

The ENR number to call if you spot a bear near the community is 873-7181.