A bear sits in a tree on Margaret Street in Saranac Lake in 2012. (Enterprise photo — Chris Knight)

The state Department of Environmental Conservation has issued guidance to homeowners on avoiding conflicts with bears, as bruins around the North Country are waking from winter slumber.

“Nearly all negative bear encounters in New York are the result of hungry bears being attracted to human food sources,” the DEC said in a press release. “The simplest way to avoid a nuisance encounter is to remove potential food sources, which usually results in the bear moving on.

“Once a bear learns to obtain food from people or certain structures, it is very difficult to change the animal’s behavior. These bears are more vulnerable to motor vehicle collisions in populated areas, more likely to be illegally killed, or may become a threat to public safety.”

The DEC says homeowners should take down bird feeders and store garbage and grills inside when possible. Garbage cans should be cleaned regularly with ammonia products. The department also says that pets should not be fed outside and that meat, bones and fat should not be added to compost piles.

For more information, go to www.dec.ny.gov/animals/6995.html.