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            The bear that lives on the east end of town appears to have insomnia. When most other bears are curled up in their dens, tracks of one adult male have been spotted numerous times during the last week in the fresh snow.

            Fish and Game biologist Larry Van Daele says it is probably the same bear that's frequented the area between Walmart and Fort Abercrombie last month. Van Daele says the bruin is apparently shy of people and has no interest in dogs, and he is almost exclusively nocturnal. Besides a few Dumpster raids, there have been no reports of property damage or aggressive encounters.

            Even though the bear has not caused any trouble, Van Daele is warning people, including students who may be walking to or from either of the schools in the area, to be bear aware, especially in wooded areas after dark.

            He says it's uncommon for a bear to be active near town this time of year, it's not unprecedented. Radio collar studies on other bears show that up to 25 percent of adult males do not bed down for the entire winter.