MOUNT VERNON — An adult bear, likely spooked by the sound of barking dogs, headed for the hills last week after it was seen by neighbors in east Mount Vernon.

Residents in Lake McMurray say they also spotted a small group of bears in the area. In recent springs, a few bears have visited Lake McMurray to dine on fruit in trees growing there, residents say.

In Mount Vernon, Dennis Tonkin saw the bear around 3 p.m. May 1 when he took his dog to the backyard of his home on Sioux Drive. The dog seemed interested in Tonkin’s neighbor’s yard and Tonkin looked through a chain-link fence to see a roughly 300-pound bear.

Tonkin called 911 and another neighbor who saw the bear in the 3700 block of Shoshone also called, police said. The officer didn’t see the bear. Tonkin said the bear went south.

Residents in the forested subdivision frequently see deer and raccoons and the occasional coyote, but Tonkin said he’d never seen a bear in the area.

“Bears are pretty reclusive. I think he was just kind of roaming around,” Tonkin said. “He got a lot of dogs barking. I don’t think he’ll be back.”

Problems with bears can be avoided if people refrain from feeding the animals, state Fish and Wildlife officers. Generally bears stay away from people, but once a bear associates humans with food, it loses its fear of people, wildlife officials say.

To reduce the likelihood of a bear encounter, wildlife experts tell homeowners living near forested areas to:

• Never intentionally feed wild animals;

• Secure garbage can lids, and store cans in a garage until collection day;

• Feed pets indoors;

• Clean barbecue grills after each use;

• Take down bird feeders in spring, and rehang them in the fall; and

Report sightings to the local wildlife office through the State Patrol dispatch center in Marysville at 360-757-1175; the state’s dangerous-wildlife hotline, 1-800-477-6224; or in an emergency, 911.

For information on bears log onto http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/blkbear/blkbear.htm.

• Marta Murvosh can be reached at 360-416-2149 or .