Prince George, B.C. – What kinds of bears do we have? What should you do when you encounter one? Can we both coexist?

These will be some of the talking points presented by the Northern Bear Awareness Society during a public information session in the Keith Gordon Room of the Bob Harkins branch of the Prince George Public Library Tuesday night.

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President Dave Bakker says the talk is timed to coincide with bears re-emerging from their hibernation.

“We’re going to have a few charts set up and some maps and displays,” he says. “It’s very interactive, there’s going to b a Q & A and the presentation starts at 7 p.m.”

So, after all these years of public information sessions, are people becoming more educated on the topic?

“You know every time we attend an event, yes, most of the time we do attract what we consider to be like-minded individuals,” he says. “But the more we branch out and the more we diversify where and which events we’re attending to, even if we can reach three of four people a year we feel we’re gaining ground.”

Bakker says there’s already been reports a couple weeks ago of some bear sightings in the Hart and expects more soon.

“Now is the time. We always try and promote being proactive. If you wait till it happens it’s too late.”

The presentation will be preceded by a meet at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free.