A grizzly crime spree has shocked the well heeled residents of Whistler, a swank western Canadian ski resort which will host alpine events in the 2010 winter Olympics.
Bears which have learned how to unlock car doors and crack open dumpsters are being blamed for nearly 100 house and car break-ins in the scenic mountain village so far this year.
Other nearby towns have reported double the usual number of bear-related incidents. Even residents in Vancouver suburbs 150km south made a whopping 1,500 calls to conservation officials after spotting bears.
"We're concerned about what might happen, especially when a bear comes knocking and somebody is home," said conservation officer Chris Doyle.
"Anytime you get a bear and a person in a confined space, there is definitely potential for a physical encounter."
An unusually hot summer prematurely dried up berry crops in mountains where black bears normally feed, sending them into built-up areas to scavenge for food.
A population boom which has produced 100 extra bears in the Whistler region has created more competition for food.
Bears are attracted by the smell of food, garbage, backyard composts, bird feeders and an abundance of lush fruit trees and ripe berries in gardens.
Some have learned how to turn door knobs to get into homes. They have popped out car windows or bent car doors. Bears have even been seen bouncing on large commercial dumpster lids to crack them open.
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