BRECKENRIDGE, Colo. (AP) - Bears on a pre-hibernation eating binge are rummaging through Summit County kitchens, garages, barns, cars and garbage containers in unprecedented numbers this year.

"We have bears coming into every town in the county," said district wildlife manager Tom Kroening of the Colorado Division of Wildlife.

Kroening said he's received more bear complaints this summer than ever before in Summit County, in the mountains about 50 miles west of Denver.

Four reports have come from Breckenridge, at least three each from Keystone and Frisco, two from Wildernest and at least one each from Copper Mountain, Willowbrook and Silverthorne.

Officials say the bears may be coming into town in greater numbers because they've learned food is easy to find there.

Wildlife officials advise residents to keep garbage in bear-proof containers and store bird and pet food indoors to avoid attracting bears.

Only two of the Summit County bears, one sighted in Breckenridge and one in Keystone, are considered problem animals with repeat encounters. Under Division of Wildlife rules, they must be killed if they encounter human again.

Bear sightings are more frequent in late summer as the animals forage about 20 hours a day, consuming about 20,000 calories daily as they fatten up before hibernation.

Information from: Summit Daily News

AP-WS-08-27-04 1506EDT