The bears are coming out of hibernation.

Police in Vernon have responded to at least six complaints of a bear in the Middleton Mountain and Tamarack area of the City over the past few days.

RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk says the bears are looking for food sources.

“Thursday afternoon police officers responded to a complaint of a bear in a garage in the 14000 block of Ponderosa Way. The bear would not leave the area and showed no fear to people, it posed a risk to public safety. The bear had become conditioned to garbage as its food source, so it had to be put down before someone was hurt,” says Molendyk.

He says problem wildlife should be reported to the Conservation RAP Line at 1-877-952-7277.

“Conservation officers are asking residents to minimize the potential problems by keeping their garbage cans in a garage or secured and do not leave pet food in the open. Bears can also be attracted to compost piles and bird feeders and even your barbeque.”