Yellowknife (Aug 16/06) - A large male black bear living south of Yellowknife near Kam Lake is helping to keep the city bear-free, according to wildlife officials.

The bear was first spotted in spring of 2005. The bear moved into the area after another bear residing there was killed by hunters in 2004.

Adult male black bears are very territorial, which may be contributing to a lack of sightings of other bears near the city this year, said wildlife officer Albert Bourque. There have been none reported within the city this year so far.

"Since he's been there we've had no problems," he said.

The renewable resource officers recently hazed the bear by shooting him with rubber bullets in an attempt to make him scared of humans.

"If you instill a fear of people in large carnivores, it's not just sight but scent, so it deters him from entering cabins," Bourque said, adding it helps ensure the bear won't bother humans.

He added that since the city installed an electrical fence at the dump, there have been fewer bears roaming into the community.

"The big problem is the dump," Bourque said.

"We had the commitment from the city to install the fence around the dump."

Bears caught within the city are usually tagged and relocated from Yellowknife.

"Any that come back the following year are destroyed," he said.

"In the course of our work, there are times we have to destroy the animals."

Good berries in the wild this summer have also ensured bears have no reason to try and get to the dump, Bourque said.

"It's less of a reason for them to come. It's easier for them to find food."