Bears making themselves at home in Birtle, Man.

Residents and campers in the western Manitoba town of Birtle have been dealing with some guests the last two weeks that have been getting a little too close for comfort.

A mother bear and her cubs are among a group of bears that have been seen roaming in the town for the last two weeks, according to Prairie View Municipality reeve Linda Clark.

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"They are very brave," Clark said. "They're up at people's decks and at their windows and whatnot."

Clark said bears have been seen in the town, located about 285 kilometres west of Winnipeg, from time to time in the last few years. But this year the animals seem more visible and more brave.

"People are being very careful at the moment but they have a huge concern about this as does council," Clark said. 

She said two other bears have been seen without cubs in the town in the last two weeks as well.

Dave Mclellan, who runs a Roblin, Man.-based reptile rescue, stays in the campground during the summer months. He came within four-and-a-half metres of a bear and her three cubs last Saturday.

"I just froze," he said when he saw the bears after leaving the washroom. "I just stopped and watched her because I was close enough that if she came towards me I could run back in the bathrooms and lock the door." 

Mclellan said the bear and cubs eventually retreated to a wooded area where the mother bear kept an eye on him.

Sightings concerning 

A post on the campground's Facebook page called the number of reported bear sightings concerning and asked campers to be vigilant and to keep food and garbage out of sight. 

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Mclellan said he's hasn't had a bear encounter in the park in the four summers he's been camping there and doesn't know why they're more visible this year. 

"It seems like they're out in the open more," he said. "They aren't staying in the bushes much." 

While concerning, Clark said wildlife in town is nothing new. She said bears, as well as elk and moose, have come into town before, but doesn't know why they are so visible — and staying so long — this year. 

"We're seeing a lot more wildlife in our area and certainly the bears [are] of that," she said. I'm not sure if there is just more wildlife or whether more wildlife seems to be moving down from the park." 

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The town is just south of Riding Mountain National Park. 

Clark said town officials have contacted Manitoba Conservation, which has placed traps around town, and officers are keeping an eye on the situation. 

She said residents can do their part by keeping their garbage out of sight and reporting sightings immediately. 

Clark said living alongside wildlife is just a fact of life in rural Manitoba. 

"It's the part of the country we live in. We're a well-treed area," she said. "It's a fact of nature." 

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