Sightings of black bears are becoming more common, particularly in eastern Newfoundland and on the Avalon Peninsula.

The regional ecosystem director with the Department of Forestry, Wesley Morgan, says overall, black bear populations have not changed dramatically with between 6,000 and 10,000 animals on the island in any given year.

But there are fluctuations in those populations says Morgan, and recently the frequency of the sightings on the Avalon has increased.

He says when bears are spotted, the department issues public advisories about “some of the precautions that residents and property owners and communities should be aware of.”