Another two bears near Whitehorse have been killed this week after they got into residents' yards.

The shootings bring this year's total of destroyed bears to seven.

"It's the same story,” Ken Knutson, a manager of field operations with Environment Yukon, said in an interview Thursday afternoon.

In both cases – one in the Ibex Valley and one near Lake Laberge – there were attractants in the yards that drew in the bears.

In the case around the Ibex Valley, garbage attracted the bear.

Knutson noted that while the garbage had been left in a container, the container wasn't bear-proof.

Conservation officers made the decision to shoot the bear that had been reported in the neighbourhood for two weeks after doing the risk assessment.

Though a trap had been set earlier to capture the animal, it hadn't worked.

"It (had) gone on too long,” Knutson said of the bear's activity in the neighbourhood. It wasn't likely the animal could be rehabilitated to go back into the wild if it was caught, he added.

In the other case near Lake Laberge, a resident shot the black bear after it came into the yard. Knutson said it's believed the bear was attracted to odours in the yard.

"We will be conducting interviews,” he said, adding it's standard practice to do an investigation any time a bear is shot by a civilian.

While residents can legally shoot animals posing a threat to people or property, Knutson said, officers investigate to ensure there was a threat and that nothing was out to attract wildlife.

Such incidents must also immediately be reported to Environment Yukon, which was done in this case.

Knutson was quick to note these and the other five bear deaths could have been prevented.

"In each case, it's been garbage,” he said.

Though people know leaving garbage and food out can attract bears, he said, they become complacent when there hasn't been an issue.

Knutson also noted freezers left outside, meat caches and other such outdoor food areas can attract bears.

This time of year, bears are very "keyed on” building energy for mating and hibernation, he said.

Knutson said that though there's no guarantee bears won't enter yards with no garbage, if there's no reward, they're unlikely to return.

If there is food, there's a very high chance they'll return, if not to that yard, to a neighbour's yard.

"We, as humans, can change our behaviour,” Knutson said.

The department will soon be sending out a Wild and Alive pamphlet to locals that will include a checklist of ways to prevent bears from entering their yard.

Knutson pointed to the department's website at http://www.env.gov.yk.ca as being "chock-a-block” full of information on bear safety.

It also includes the bear incident map showing where bear sightings have happened over the last 10 days as well as whether any bears were killed.

Knutson is also reminding residents to be aware that there are bears and to take precautions when outside, such as carrying bear spray and being sure to travel in groups if out in the bush.