Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife spokesperson Steven Dobey says there are more bears now than we've had in the last 100 years.

The wildlife official says in Pike and McCreary County alone there are 300 to 400 bears.

Dobey says Kentucky provides the perfect habitat for black bears saying more have moved in from adjacent states and we're just approaching the bear mating season.

Most of the bears seen by people are males, saying typically the females stay put while the male bears coming looking for them.

Besides looking for love the bears are also on a constant search for food which brings them to new places like the bluegrass region.

Dobey cautions, if food is left laying around it could also lure bears into cities and towns saying a bear might look cute and cuddly but it's claws are designed for tearing tree bark and teeth as long as fingers.

Dobey says 99 percent of the problems between people and wild bears can be prevented by keeping food out of the bears way.