It's likely a lone black bear that's been wandering around the Copper Ridge, Arkell and Logan subdivisions in recent days, says the senior conservation officer with Environment Yukon.

Ryan Hennings said he encountered the bruin Thursday evening while out patrolling, after he received a report of bear tracks in the snow from a resident on North Star Drive.

He followed the tracks through the greenbelt along the ridge heading toward Finch Crescent when he received another report from a resident on Finch.

"I got there within a minute,” Hennings told the Star, adding that he followed the tracks through the yard and saw the bear at the rear edge of the property line.

Hennings said he was hoping to shoot the bear with a rubber slug to deliver a negative response to its activity but the animal bolted soon after catching a glimpse of the officer.

"He ran away as soon as he confronted people, which is what we want him to do,” said Hennings. "That is a positive sign.”

But the officer emphasized area residents need to stay bear-aware if they're out walking the trails, just as they would in the spring and summer.

Area residents are also being encouraged to store their garbage and compost in the garage if they're able or take steps to secure their bins in some other fashion, he said.

Hennings said removing what is attracting the bear will increase the likelihood of it becoming interested in the culvert trap officers have placed along the power line easement behind Finch.

The intent, he said, is to capture and relocate the bear.

"I believe there is only one bear,” Hennings said. "There is a possibility there may be two, but I think it is just one.”

Hennings said the bear is a healthy-looking brown black bear, standing a little less than a metre high and is probably four or five years old, though he said he can't be sure about the age, nor whether its a boar or a sow.

Environment Yukon has received about 11 reports since Tuesday but nothing after Thursday's encounter at about 6:30 p.m., Hennings said.

He said this is the time of year when bears will begin hibernating for the winter, as their source of natural foods like berries and shrubs are quickly disappearing.

"They should be going to bed any time now, but it is really the call of the individual bear, how healthy they are and how well they've stored up fat reserves.”