There have been a few reports of bear sightings recently, and officials are warning campers to be safe when heading into more northern areas of the province this summer.

Rich Hildebrand is a Saskatchewan Conservation Officer and said that he seems to be hearing more about bear sightings this year.

"We've always had a pretty healthy population of bear, but it just seems like officers have been getting a greater number of calls about sightings. I talked to one (officer) who said that there definitely seems to be a little above average in sightings."

Hildebrand also said that there are some misconceptions out there about how to deal with a bear if you come across one. He said you should not play dead.

"If you encounter (a bear), it's basically to stay calm. Don't run, back away, make a wide turn away, speak in low tones, and don't look directly at it. And don't approach or feed a bear, especially if it has cubs."

He also says you should keep your food sealed up tightly, as they are often drawn to populated areas because they smell food. You should also take all of your garbage with you when you leave a campsite, and not attempt to burn it.