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LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
Staff with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources are reminding Fort Simpson residents to be on the lookout for bears.

Fort Simpson residents are being reminded to keep an eye out for bears, which are being seen in increasing numbers around the village as they forage for berries. - NNSL file photo

"We're seeing a lot of bears," said Carl Lafferty, the department's regional superintendent.

Since the beginning of August, Lafferty said the department's staff has been receiving an increasing number of calls about bear sightings around the village.

"They are being seen but they aren't really causing a nuisance," he said.

Lafferty said the increase is linked to the fact that a type of white berry that grows in bunches is currently ripe and black bears are searching them out to eat them.

On the whole, if people see a bear they shouldn't be that concerned unless the animal is displaying aggressive behaviour, he said. Lafferty cautioned that people should still take precautions when walking alone or going for runs in the early morning or later at night when bears are most active.

Lafferty advises people to go out in pairs or groups and not to wear headphones. With headphones on, people aren't as aware of their surroundings, he said.

Prior to the recent increase in activity, Lafferty said the summer has been relatively quiet in terms of both the number of bear complaints and the number of bears that have had to be destroyed.

So far only five bears have been destroyed this summer in the village, including one that was shot and killed by a resident because it was breaking into and raiding a garbage bin. The department prefers if people don't take matters in their own hands when it comes to problem bears, especially in the village limits, but in this case the bear was near the boat launch at the end of the island and the person in question was an experienced hunter, said Lafferty.

A sixth bear was caught in a bear trap and released on the other side of the Liard River.

Lafferty said the number of problem bears destroyed is low considering that in some years between 14 to 16 have been put down.

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