Spring has sprung on Arbutus Lake and the bears are definitely awake and looking for food. They are adorable! but still wild animals and can be unpredictable. If you have one visiting your home, the DNR advises the best thing to do for both the bear and yourself is to bang the pots and scare if off. Bears that become reliant on people for food or lose their fear of people end up as "nuisance bears". The DNR does try to relocate them but they typically come right back and then need to be put down as a precaution. So please take your bird feeders in, don't leave your waste cans out overnight, don't leave pet food outdoors, and keep those pots handy so you can make a lot of noise and Smokey will gently move on.