BLAINE, WA – The state Department of Fish and Wildlife are hoping to trap some black bears recently spotted in Blaine.

The Northern Light reports the bears, a mother and her two cubs, were first sighted in Maple Falls late last month, but have since made their way through Ferndale, Custer, and now Blaine.

Once trapped, officials say they will assess the bears to determine if they can be relocated or if they need to be euthanized.

Many of the sightings involved the bears eating garbage outside of people’s homes.

The department advises residents to keep trash bins in closed buildings until collection days, remove bird feeders until later in the fall, and to clean up any fallen fruit on their property to keep the bears from approaching.

They say if you do encounter a black bear to make loud noises to shoo the bear away and contact Fish and Wildlife to report the sighting.