JEROME, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — If you are eager to hike and enjoy the natural beauty of Idaho, Fish and Game officials warn that the flowers and birds aren’t the only thing returning.

Black bears start emerging from hibernation in mid-March, all the way into April. Clint Rogers, a regional conservation officer with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game said every year, they get reports of human-black bear encounters, especially in the Wood River Valley where humans are close to their environment.

Rogers said the most common cause of these encounters is due to food.

“As they come out of hibernation, they’re looking to refill their calories and take care of their young. So whatever easy food access they have, they are very opportunistic so, they are looking for, you know, in urban settings they’ll try to get into unsecured garbage containers, those type of things. Pet food, fruit trees, anything like that that is easily accessible to them,” Rogers said.

Rogers said to avoid visits from black bears, secure your trash and petfood, and clean up any fruit near the trees to discourage bears from coming around.

If you are hiking in bear country, there’s also some precautions you can take.

“Carry bear spray with them, but also while they’re hiking, if you can hike in groups, make some noise while you are moving through the country you are hiking in just so that you are not having a startling impact on those bears. They can hear you coming. Generally they’ll try to move away from that type of pressure,” Rogers said.

Rogers added to also keep your dog on a leash when in bear country to avoid encounters.

Another important thing to remember is that there’s also a chance black bears might have cubs with them, Rogers reminds people to not get between a momma bear and her young, because they will attack anyone who gets near them.