WILDLIFE -- An aggressive black bear was reported Thursday along the popular national forest hiking-biking trails of Canfield Mountain near Coeur d'Alene, the Idaho Fish and Game Department says.

"We have varying second-hand reports that a black bear with at least one cub has been sighted," said Wayne Wakkinen, department regional wildlife manager.

The upper portion of the trail system might be a place to avoid for a while, especially with pet dogs, Idaho Panhandle National Forest officials are suggesting.

"At this point, it appears that the bear is exhibiting 'typical' bear mannerism, and has not demonstrated aggressive behavior,"  said Shoshana Cooper, Forest Service public affairs officer."

Visitors to the area should be "bear aware," she said, noting that mother bears can be dangerously protective of their cubs.

"Be sure to make plenty noise to notify the bear of your presence, carry bear spray, and keep dogs leashed."

"We haven't heard anything more and nothing first-hand," Wakkinen said. 

"We don't have any action planned, but if we hear additional reports we're on call and would respond.

"If a bear is being aggressive or habituated near town we'd probably try to get a hound dog, tree the bear and remove it," he said.

Black bear attacks are rare and the bears usually run away from humans, he said.

"But if one is aggressive and charging humans, that's not behavior we're going to tolerate.   We'd eliminate that bear.  There are facilities that are pretty successful in rehabilitating cubs, so we have that option. We don't want to take that action, but we will if we have to."