CANTON -- A black bear ushered off campus early Monday morning at SUNY Canton, according to Canton Police Chief Lori McDougal.

The bear was spotted at about 5 a.m. Law enforcement officers responded and ushered the bear back into the woods.

McDougal warned residents, “Do not approach bears. The first priority in human-bear conflicts is public safety,” McDougal wrote in an email.

“DEC evaluates every scenario and tries to encourage the bear out of the inappropriate setting. If they attract a lot of attention, they may become startled and climb a tree,” McDougal wrote.

“Bears are attracted by smells and many things smell like potential bear food. Remove the food attractant and you’ll remove the bear,” she.

According to the DEC website, “good housekeeping” is a requirement wherever black bears are found.

Some common sense suggestions:

• Remove bird feeders after April 1. Bird seed and suet are a very strong attraction for bears, even if they can’t reach it.

• Don’t leave garbage outside of homes and garages.

• Remove the grease can from grills.

• Don’t feed pets outside.

• Do not operate refrigerators or freezers outside or on porches.

• Never feed bears intentionally. It is illegal and creates human-bear conflicts.

There is more advice on bear-human interactions from the NY DEC at http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/6995.html.