A search for a black bear spotted at Pendergast Park Monday afternoon drew state Fish and Wildlife officers but came up empty.

But sightings of foraging ursines have seen a dramatic increase recently all over Kitsap County.

Fish and Wildlife Sergeant Ted Jackson said officers typically receive more calls about bears roaming among humans this time of year, noting officers have fielded about 40 calls from throughout Kitsap County in the past week. About 80 percent of those calls are based on real sightings. No injuries have been reported.

“We tell people most of the time that the bears are going after the garbage cans and bird feeders,” Jackson said, advising that people keep garbage and food out of bears’ reach.