'The Boss' is spotted in Banff as many bears begin to wake up from hibernation

Saturday, March 21, 2015, 2:47 PM - Officials from Banff National Park took to twitter to remind Canadians that bears are starting to wake up.

One of the first to be spotted was none other than "The Boss," a locally-famous 300-kilogram grizzly bear. The Boss is assumed to be the first grizzly to wake up from full hibernation in the national park.

Five bears were seen back in February but experts think those bears returned to hibernation shortly after being spotted.

"This is something the bears do regularly in periods of warm weather," ecologist John Paczkowski told CBC News. "It's warm [and] there's not much snow covering their dens."

But the spotting of The Boss—officially known as Bear 122—is expected to be just the first in the next couple of weeks. More bears, including females and cubs will wake up from their winter slumber. Officials are reminding people that the animals might be looking for a bite.

People need to remember that at this time of year bears are waking up hungry, so the animals are focused on finding food," Parks Canada spokeperson Tania Peters told the CBC. "When out enjoying the park, people need to follow safe travel practices while in bear country."

What to do if you encounter a bear

Of course the best advice offered on the Parks Canada website is to avoid an encounter. If you're wandering through a forest, especially near streams or dense vegetation make a lot of noise to alert bears you're there. Keep an eye out for any bear signs and travel in larger size groups. Hiking in groups of four or more is recommended.

Bear spray can be effective if you encounter one of the large animals. Always carry it with you know and know how to use it.

The worst-case scenario when it comes to encounters is when you spot a bear and the bear spots you.

According to Parks Canada, it's imperative you stay calm. Bears will feel reassured by your behavior. Talk to the bear so it knows you're not a prey animal and walk away slowly. If the bear does choose to approach you, get ready to use the spray. Do not run.

Sources: CBC News | Parks Canada

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