Some biologists think the trend is related to the reduced hunting pressure from Outside hunters this year.

Alaska Department of Fish and Game officials say a bunch of young bears and a dwindling natural food supply are forcing the bruins to search human garbage for food before they hibernate for the winter.

State and federal law enforcement officers killed a brown bear Sunday on the mainland southeast of Wrangell. They believe it was the same bear that was threatening some campers in the area.

Last year, Fish and Game and the Juneau Police Department received roughly 470 calls about bear activity. By the end of August this year, they had already fielded more than 600.

This year has seen a dramatic increase in bear activity with bear-related calls up by 600%, according to police chief Heath Scott. As many as 22 bears have been shot in defense of property this year.

A new paper warns that a growing reliance on trash is leading to more human-bear conflict

The bears won’t hibernate if food remains available, so the continued availability of trash in the area has created a dangerous situation, biologists say.