With spring’s arrival comes the end of hibernation. And with the end of hibernation comes the first bear sighting of the season.

Two separate reports came in Sunday about a bear spotted near the 5900-block of Old East Rd..

The animal raided two beehives located nearby.

“We want to remind our community that bears are in the process of waking from their winter hibernation, so they will be out foraging for food,” Saanich police Sgt. Dean Jantzen said.

The B.C. Conservation Officer Service was notified but no action was taken. The sightings weren’t immediately reported and were in a rural area of Saanich – on the east side of the Pat Bay Highway just north of Elk Lake.

For tips on reducing human and bear encounters, visit www.bearaware.bc.ca

kslavin@saanichnews.com