After a long winter, are wandering around one Lower Mainland city like they own the place and are lighting up social media.

The RCMP detachment responsible for the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows area received a call Monday night of a black bear being chased by a remote control car.

鈥淏ear spotted, by Golden Ears school,鈥� Joel Silvestri said on Facebook.

Officers responded, but when they arrived on scene, no bear, car or car operator were around.

Another bear was spotted near a coffee shop, while a cub was observed along a main street.

Police even got a call about a bear ambling through a seniors鈥� complex.

鈥淵ou can鈥檛 make this stuff up,鈥� said Ross Davies, with the Kanaka Education Environmental Protection Society.

responding to a report of someone chasing a black bear with a remote control car RidgeBC

鈥� ScanBC (@ScanBC)

It is a bad year for bears though, he added.

鈥淭his is probably the most bear activity in the neighbourhoods that I鈥檝e ever seen, actually,鈥� he said.

The heavy snow pack in the mountains has pushed the bruins down into the suburbs where they鈥檙e looking for free lunches. That鈥檚 why people have to remember to keep their garbage away from hungry paws.

鈥淚f you鈥檝e got a neighbourhood with habituated bears,鈥� Davies said, 鈥渢he garbage has to be secured until it鈥檚 in the truck.鈥�

He said the situation should improve as salmonberries ripen, giving more food for the grazers.