Most people know not to keep food out unattended when there are bears around, but Parks Canada wants to remind everyone to be safe, which also keeps the bears safe in Prince Albert National Park. Visitor Safety Officer Kevin Ferrie says there is a larger than average bear population this year, so your chances of encountering one are greater. Ferrie explains that there is lots of food out there for the black bears, so if they wander into areas where people are, it’s probably because they are looking for water at the lake. He reminds visitors that along with keeping food stored away, you should also keep things like pet food and toothpaste out of sight, because the bears are attracted to anything with a smell. If you see one on the road, toot your horn to scare it away. There have been reports this year of people letting the bears climb on their cars, reportedly for those good social media pictures. Ferrie says this is dangerous because the bears can get too comfortable, and it’s better if they maintain a fear of people and vehicles. Ferrie advises when you encounter a bear, if it is paying attention to you, it means you are too close. If you back away and it goes back to its normal actions, it’s okay. He reminds visitors that the Waskesiu town site is on the forest fringe, so there is often an interface where we see wildlife in the town and they see us in their area.