Whitehorse residents are being reminded to keep an eye out for bears in the area after another sighting of a black bear on the clay cliffs yesterday.

The bear was spotted by people at the west end of Main Street, but by the time conservation officers arrived in the area, the bear had scrambled off into the trees and disappeared. Officers were unable to locate the bear.

In late July, there were numerous bear sightings at Wood Street, Hawkins Street, Hamilton Boulevard West and near the Robert Service Campground. Earlier in the month, a black bear was darted in Riverdale and relocated outside the city limits. Another bear was darted and relocated in June when it was found in the Marwell area.

'We haven't had any problems with them yet,' said conservation officer Tony Grabowski. 'But between now and when they den up, everybody should be on high alert.'

Grabowski said additional warning signs have been placed at all access points to the trails along the clay cliffs, and he also advises people to limit their attractants so bears don't wander into residential areas.

He said that anyone hiking in the area should carry some means of defense with them, such as bear spray, in case they encounter a bear in the area or they are approached by one.

'We do believe there is a significant population of both black and grizzly bears within the city limits, but at this point they're just doing what bears do: they're building up their fat reserve for the upcoming denning season,' Grabowski said.

It's difficult for the bears to be caught and relocated. Attempts have been made using culvert traps, none of which have yet been successful. Grabowski added that darting the bears is not an easy task either, unless the bear climbs into a tree, which was the case in June when the black bear in Riverdale climbed into a tree on Boswell Crescent.

Relocated bears are taken to a new spot some distance from the city.