LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - A spike in activity by problem bears led to a doubling of the number of bears destroyed in Fort Simpson so far this year.

Between Aug. 13 and 16 officers with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources had to put down four bears and relocated a fifth. Prior to the weekend the department had only destroyed approximately four bears throughout the summer.

In a single weekend, officers with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources doubled the number of bears that have been destroyed this year in Fort Simpson. - NNSL file photo

"It's not a very common thing that happens that's for sure," said Doug Villeneuve, the manager of wildlife and environment with the department in Fort Simpson.

The destroyed bears were reported in a variety of locations around the island including near the boat launch, at the South Nahanni Airways base, in the backyard of a residence along the on island airstrip and at the Seven Spruce Golf Course. It's suspected the four bears were the bulk of the wildlife calls the department has received this summer. Officers had just missed them in the past and finally caught up with them this weekend, Villeneuve said.

"They were constant problems," he said.

The bears were in high use areas and people's back yards, situations that were deemed to be dangerous, so they were put down immediately instead of having officers try to deter them from the areas, said Villeneuve. Bears that have become habituated to high levels of human interaction are animals that you have to be wary of, he said.

The increase in bear activity could be the result of the availability of berries. Now that the berries are ripe bears could be travelling between different patches on the island, Villeneuve said.

The fifth bear, a small juvenile, was caught in a live bear trap at Rowe's Construction on Sunday night. The animal was released approximately 15 km on the other side of the Liard River.

With the increased bear activity, residents don't need to take any extra precautions but should follow the same suggestions that are given when the animals first emerge in the spring, said Villeneuve.

He suggests avoiding walking along the highway and the village's back roads at night and travelling in groups when possible. Making a bit of noise while you walk is also advisable.

In addition to bears the department responded to a report of a cougar sighting on Aug. 14. A person travelling on the causeway reported seeing a golden coloured animal walking in the tall grass towards the Papal site.

The caller wasn't able to describe any other specific features such as a long tail and officers were unable to find any tracks or other evidence that it was a cougar, said Villeneuve. An officer did investigate the report with assistance from the RCMP and people on the beach at the time were warned of the possibility that there was a cougar in the vicinity.

Residents are asked to report any possible cougar sightings and provide specific details and features if possible.

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