Summer is right around the corner and so is the long weekend, so if you plan on camping or going out of town it's never too late to brush up on some bear safety. While they are rarely found in southeast Saskatchewan, they are fairly widespread through other parts of the province.

Bears, like many others predators in the wild, can be unpredictable and dangerous but unlike bears, you can be prepared for the unexpected.

Steve Dobko is an inspector with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment. He provided some pointers on how to avoid encountering bears.

"When your in the outdoors particularly camping this time of year or for the long weekend you need to be aware of where garbage is being disposed of, food is being left outdoors, coolers under your campsites, those are attractants to the wildlife which would include bears," he said. Dobko added that it's important if you have pets such as dogs on a leash and not to feed bears as they generally hungrier this time of the year.

When one does find themselves encountered by a bear, try to keep as much distance between yourself and the bear by using trees, rocks or any other surrounding structures that can help in keeping you as far from the bear as possible

"It's important that you stay calm you don't wanna run from a bear, you would make a wide detour if you can,” Dobko explained. “You would just calmly walk away from the bear, speak in low tones and avoid eye contact with the bear. Obviously, if you see any cubs you wanna avoid them as the mother would likely be nearby."

If you do encounter a bear or know of bears in your area you should contact your local Ministry of Environment office or call the Poachers and Polluters 24-hour line at 1-800-667-7561.