Bears walking in without knocking in Whistler, B.C.

Bears have broken into more than 75 homes and 20 cars so far this year in the resort community of Whistler, B.C., according to bear researchers.

Lured by the smell of garbage or food, the bears have learned how to turn doorknobs and pry open or break windows to gain entry to houses and vehicles.

"A bear is very dexterous with his paws," says researcher Mike Allen of the Whistler Black Bear Project. "There's no difference in a bear opening a door knob and a bear working parts of a stump to get carpenter ants out of it."

Once inside, the bears usually head straight for the kitchen, where they open refrigerator and cupboard doors and help themselves to whatever's inside.

Bears are also creating headaches in Squamish district, where conservation officer Chris Doyle says more than 700 complaints have been recorded on the bear hotline, double the number of last year.

Doyle says the main attraction in the region is ripe fruit. He advises people to dispose of any fruit they find on the ground and store no garbage outside the house and as little as possible inside.

He says bears can be enticed to break into a car by something as simple as an old coffee cup, pop can or candy wrapper.

Residents have been told they can't expect any relief from their bear problems until the animals go into hibernation, which is still a couple of months away.