Gull Lake, Man., residents cleaning up from a deadly tornado say they're concerned about a possible new threat: skunks, bears and other wildlife searching for food in the rubble.

The communities of Gull Lake and Lac du Bonnet, in eastern Manitoba, suffered extensive damage when a tornado tore through the area on Aug. 5. One woman was killed and several people were injured.

Residents now worry bears will start looking for food that was thrown as far as 100 metres from cottages and trailers in the storm. Much of that food is now buried under debris and fallen trees.

Longtime Gull Lake resident Dan Weston said Thursday he had smelled skunks in the area looking for a meal, and he said he fears bears won't be far behind.

"We're going to need a lot of volunteers to actually go through this bushline and pick up foodstuffs, because with the bears and the critters out … I got one real peed-off cat, because this is his territory and he's under house arrest," Weston said.

Janice Walker has smelled the skunks, too, and said she is being cautious.

"I wouldn't be going out after dark," Walker said. "There's no berries this year and yeah, I'm sure bears will be a problem."

Wildlife officials say bears are common

But Jim Giesbrecht, chief natural resource officer for Manitoba Conservation in Selkirk, said he isn't too concerned about a bear threat, adding that bears are common in the area anyway.

Gull Lake is "right in the heart of bear country," Giesbrecht said. "So the people there are very much aware of bears and they're used to bears, and they also know who to contact if they have any concerns."

As for the skunks, rats and other animals coming to Gull Lake, Giesbrecht said they are likely the same animals that would be in the area regardless of any tornado damage.

Giesbrecht said residents with a bear problem should phone the Manitoba Conservation district office in Grand Beach.