FLORENCE, Ore. - There have been 11 recent bear complaints in Florence, most within the last month.

"March 21,2008 was the first bear and I seen it at 6:40pm," said Donna Weaver.

Weaver doesn't just write down bear sightings. She also films them.

"They were out there in that field out there where those trees are," said Weaver. "The 9th of April right at noon. The mamma bear and the baby they're out here."

Weaver said the bears often prowl around in her Florence backyard, but this year, that's not the only place you'll see bears in Florence.

"It's a little different this year than last year further north just on northern outskirts of Florence is the worst," said Doug Cottam of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

When Cottam says worst, he means it.

"Working here for 15 years this is the worst year so far," said Cottam.

The reason? "Because last year we saw lots of females with young cubs. I expect those young cubs will be on there own," said Cottam.

This year's bears are fatter, probably because they went into hibernation late, and came out early looking for easy food.

Another sighting here in Forence within the last month was a bit more unusual that's because biologists said a bear came out of the woods during the broad daylight hours and just feet away from the police station and office buildings.

"Should people be worried about these bears? I don't think they're more aggressive or anything than normal, it's just their encounters. We've had more encounters and so that always concerns me," said Cottam.

Cottam said all of the complaints stemmed from people leaving food out for the bears, so his main message is don't feed the bears.