The animal control officer for several Huron County municipalities says we're now approaching the time of year when people are anxious to get out on their favourite hiking trails again.
But they might not be alone.
Bob Trick says this is also the time of year when bears come out of hibernation and they're hungry.
Trick says there were enough bear sightings late last fall to indicate that several bears had chosen to remain in Huron County for the winter but he says he hasn't had any reports of bears yet. He adds it's been an unusual winter but he expects sightings any day now.
Trick says a bear's sense of smell will alert the to people on the trails and they don't want to see people any more than people want to see them. He says his biggest concern is a mother bear trying to protect her cubs.
In the event a bear is encountered, Trick says you shouldn't don't look the bear in the eye and don't try to outrun it. He says if you slowly back away from the bear it will likely ignore you.
Trick stresses bears to have an excellent sense of smell so if food is left out in garbage around a house or on the barbecue they'll smell it and come looking for it. If they find food they'll stay there looking for more. If they don't find food they'll move on.