Whether it's actually the case or not, there is a widespread impression there are more bears than usual being spotted in Hay River this summer.
However, Jerry Hordal, a renewable resources officer with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR), said it may be the same bears being seen by different people in about the same locations and at about the same times.
"We don't know that they're all the same bears," he told The Hub. "We suspect that they're all the same bears because they're seen in the same area. But there are no bears tagged and, unless they've got specific markings on them, we can't be sure it's the exact same bear, but they do show up in the same areas."
So far this summer, ENR has destroyed two bears in Hay River – one on July 29 and the other on Aug. 9.
"They get habituated to garbage and they kept coming back," said Hordal. "We tried to deter them from the area and used bangers on them and chased them out with vehicles."
The number of destroyed bears is within the range of normal for Hay River, since Hordal noted some years none have been destroyed while other years there have been four or five.
Another bear was shot – but not by ENR – on the Hay River Reserve on Aug. 9.
ENR has not tried to capture any bears in cages this summer to relocate them to another area.
"We haven't caught any and moved them this year," said Hordal. "We haven't used the traps, yet. The thing is with a bear that's habituated to garbage, if we move that you're just moving the problem to a different location."
The renewable resources officer explained that, once bears become habituated to garbage, they become a greater danger to people because there are human smells on the garbage because people have handled the products and the bears start associating people with food because they're eating the garbage.
"We'd like to remind everybody here in Hay River if they're anywhere close to these green areas or along the river that they keep their garbage secure in a garage or a building where bears can't get into, and don't put it out until the actual morning of pickup," he said.
Hordal noted ENR received some reports of bear sightings in the spring.
"It's just in the last couple of weeks we've started getting more reports of bears," he said, explaining Hay River is probably part of the bears' territory and they arrive for the berries along the river as they put on weight in advance of hibernation.
Hordal said bears are usually pretty active from now until the first couple of weeks in September, and people will still see them around until October when they start heading to dens.
Danielle Antoine is one of the people to have seen a bear in Hay River this summer.
She spotted the bear on Aug. 7 while fishing in the Hay River near the West Channel Bridge.
The bear was on the other side of the river.
Antoine said she was not nervous when she spotted the animal.
"I was just watching it," she said. "It was just feeding and just grunting and feeding on the leaves and whatever else was there."
However, Antoine believes bears might be attracted to the river by people cutting up fish in the area.
"Someone must have just finished cleaning fish because there were three fish parts in the water, like right where we usually stand and fish," she said.
Antoine – a long-time resident of Hay River – thinks this summer has been worse than usual for bears in the community.
When told that ENR suspects the sightings may have been mostly of just four bears, she said, "There's got to be more bears."
Mayor Brad Mapes has heard that some people believe there is a higher than usual number of bears in the community.
"I've heard from quite a few residents that there've been quite a few that have been around," he said.
As for his own opinion on the number of bears, Mapes said, "It seems like it's more than normal."
The mayor said every time the town hears any kind of concern about bears the information is forwarded to ENR.
To report a bear sighting, ENR can be contacted at 875-7640.
More information on bear safety is also available on the department's website at www.enr.gov.nt.ca.
FACT FILE: If you encounter a bear...
On Aug. 8, the Town of Hay River released an advisory for community residents on what they should do if they encounter a bear.
The advice includes:
• Remember the 3 S's – stop, stand still, stay calm.
• Make sure others know a bear is in the vicinity.
• Do not run.
• Leave the bear an open avenue of escape.
If a bear is spotted at a distance:
• Alert the bear to your presence by speaking in low tones and slowly waving your arms.
• Quietly walk backwards the way you came or make a wide detour.
• Keep an eye on the bear.
• Stay downwind.
• Consider using warning shots or noisemakers.
If a bear is spotted nearby:
• Do not shout or make sudden movements.
• Avoid direct eye contact.
• Back away slowly.