By MIKE LYNCH

SARANAC LAKE — Brian Fitzgerald was cooling off in a pool in the Old Lake Colby Road area when he heard an animal walking under the adjoining deck.

“It was so quiet,” he said. “I assumed it was a raccoon.”

Shortly after, around 10:30 p.m., Fitzgerald heard a thud and got out of the pool. When he leaned over the deck railing and looked across the street, he saw a black bear — not a raccoon — trying to get into a garbage can.

Another garbage can, which was about 30 feet away, had been knocked over. That was the thud Fitzgerald had heard.

This month, in the Old Lake Colby Road area of Saranac Lake, there have been numerous reports of at least one bear raiding garbage cans and getting into bird feeders.

As a result of those reports, the State Department of Environmental Conservation is warning Saranac Lake residents, especially those in that vicinity, to take extra precautions to avoid attracting bears.

“Black bears will become a nuisance and can cause significant damage in communities when they can obtain an easy meal from bird feeders, garbage cans, or dumpsters,” reads the DEC statement. “Bears that become accustomed to eating human food may become more bold and aggressive, possibly entering garages and homes to obtain food.”

The DEC recommends that residents keep their garbage, birdseed and pet food in a secure area to avoid attracting hungry bears.

“Almost all nuisance bear problems are the result of hungry bears being attracted to human food,” the DEC warning states. “The simplest way to avoid a nuisance bear encounter is to remove all food sources — garbage, bird seed and pet food.”

Historically, bears are not aggressive toward humans unless the animal is surprised or cornered. Bear attacks on humans are extremely rare, although they can occur.

Bears are generally scared away by loud noises, such as those made by banging pots and yelling.

The DEC also reminds residents that it is illegal to feed bears, for it can cause them to become habituated to human food. That can result in further problems for the bear and people.

“The main attractant is garbage,” said DEC spokesman Dave Winchell. “The biggest problem we’re having is people are putting out their garbage the night before.”