Our hearts are with those who have been affected by the recent wildfires.
We applaud the Banff Canmore Foundation, who has set up a fund to help the people of Jasper and those impacted by devastating wildfires. Funds support on the ground work by partners like the Jasper Community Team Society and all donations to this fund will be directed to support Jasper wildfire response and recovery. Donate Now by clicking here!
Canmore's Community Emergency Preparedness Guide
Wildfire risk reduction is only one element of our wildfire emergency preparedness. The Town of Canmore has comprehensive, flexible emergency response plans; expanded fire fighting capabilities; mutual aid agreements in place; regularly training and testing of plans through desktop exercises as well as field exercises; adopted VoyentAlert for emergency messaging to residents (which has been widely publicized repeatedly over the last year to get people to sign up); and concurrent to the VoyentAlert campaign they have been encouraging individual preparedness.
Read the Town of Canmore’s Community Emergency Preparedness Guide to learn what you can do in advance of an emergency and what you can expect during an emergency. Earlier this week, Mayor Sean Krausert reminded the community about what we're ready for when it comes to wildfire, how you can prepare for an emergency, and how you can help support Jasper's residents and community. Watch the video here!
The information below is a compilation of bear information provided by government agencies and unconfirmed sightings reported by the public over the last week. It is not intended to be used as a real-time, complete record of where bears are in the valley.
BEAR ACTIVITY UPDATE (July 25-August 1)
(Banff National Park East Gate to Bow Valley Provincial Park)
Both black and grizzly bears, including family groups, continue to be been seen throughout the Bow Valley and Kananaskis Country, feeding on ripe buffaloberries and other natural vegetation in residential backyards, and along trails, campgrounds and day use areas. This has resulted in more warnings and closures being put in place. It is a good idea to find out where the bear warnings are and plan to avoid these areas in order to reduce your risk of encounters.
Be prepared and on the lookout for bears feeding on buffaloberries while you recreate, as many berry bushes are found along popular trails. As bears seek out berries, they will have their heads down focused on eating and not paying attention. It is up to us to make lots of noise to help avoid any surprise encounters, and give them time to move off the tails. Since the berry crop is poor, the bears likely will be more protective of their limited food sources. Don’t expect bears to move for you, have good situational awareness and give bears the space they need (at least 100m or 10 school bus lengths) to forage undisturbed in this crucial, short window of time.
This is also a more dangerous time to be doing fast activities such as biking and trail running in the backcountry, which increases the probably of encounters when bears are up higher and in and around trail systems, focused on eating and not paying attention. All trail users should have a heightened awareness, keep dogs on a leash, and make lots of noise to alert bears of their presence.
Bears will have their heads down focused on eating berries and not paying attention so it is up to us to make lots of noise to alert them of our presence to help avoid those surprise encounters.
An important point about when it is appropriate to use bear spray. Bear spray is used to save your life and should not be used as a convenience tool to clear bears off the trail. We need to give bears a chance to do the right thing, and if we do the right thing (such as make noise, give them space, back away slowly, slow down), it may not be necessary to use your bear spray and everyone can go their separate ways. If you surprise a bear that is feeding on the trail because you were not making noise (or maybe the bear heard you but did not care and did not want to stop eating), or you were travelling too fast and did not slow down around corners, or the bear does not seem to care about your presence - then you do not need to use your bear spray. Turn around, wait it out, or find another way around. It is not fair for the bear, who needs to feed, to be disturbed and sprayed with bear spray when it did nothing wrong.
For example: It is not approriate to use your bear spray on a bear that is minding its own business, being a bear, and feeding along the trail. If a bear charges at you and is showing sign of aggression - absolutely use your bear spray.
Human-wildlife coexistence requires humans and wildlife to both make sacrifices and we need to let bears do what they need to do to feed and survive.
IMPORTANT: Do not use bear bangers and screamers, especially not during a fire ban! Bear bangers are technically illegal in Parks and when used inappropriately, they could start a fire. All agencies advocate that bear spray is the recommended tool for deterring a bear!
Wildlife attractant storage (garbage, food and other scented items) is of utmost importance as bears continue to be seen in and around campgrounds and day use areas. Properly secure all wildlife attractants in your vehicle, hard-sided trailer or bear-proof lockers, never leave your food unattended even for a minute, and make sure bears do not get food rewards. If a bear approaches your picnic table with food on it, this would be an example of a good time to use your bear spray, and a good time to secure your food. We can’t prevent bears from walking through our picnic areas and campsites, but we can certainly do our best not to give them a food reward or reason to linger!
Finally, with all the focus on bears during berry season, we can’t forget about the other wildlife that call this area home. Here is a recent video still from a wildlife camera of a cougar cruising through the Rundleview Neighbourhood in Canmore. Here are some tips on handling cougar encounters.
Photo courtesy of Stan Prenioslo.
VIEW CURRENT WARNINGS AND CLOSURES
Bear Closure - Rummel Lake and surrounding area due to a bear with cubs that bluff charged a hiker resulting in the hiker deploying their bear spray. High Rockies Trail is not affected.
Bear Closure - King Creek Day Use Area and King Creek Ridge Trail due to a hiker who deployed bear spray after a grizzly bear with cubs bluff-charged them.
Bear Warning - Sulphur Springs Trail and surrounding area due to a black bear that bluff charged hikers with on-leash dogs.
You can also submit your report using the Report-A-Poacher Online form or contact your local district Fish and Wildlife office.
SOME THINGS TO ‘BEAR’ IN MIND
With numerous bear sightings occuring, we will focus this portion of the bear report on bear spray and we will be answering some common questions about it.
BEAR SPRAY
Great job, you bought a can of bear spray...now what? For your own safety, you need to check your bear spray to make sure it is safe and ready for use! For example, you will need to remove the plastic wrap AND cut the yellow strap off! Bear spray is only useful if you can get it out and ready to use in under 2 seconds and you won’t be able to remove that plastic wrap and yellow strap in a hurry. Read this article about a safety for your safety and watch the video below!
Wildlife Ambassador Derek has some words of wisdom about the safety of your bear spray safety!
Does bear spray actually work? YES! Watch the video below and read this article on the the Efficacy of Bear Spray. Results showed that in 90% of close-range encounters with black and brown bears, bear spray stopped the bear’s undesirable behaviour. It is important to note that 98% of persons carrying it were uninjured after a close encounter with bears. Bear spray is a very effective way of deterring a bear at close range and bear spray has also been shown to be effective at deterring other wildlife such as cougars, wolves, coyotes and elk, and it should be carried while walking on well-traveled trails, including the trails in and around town.
Does bear spray hurt the bear? Bear spray is non-lethal and the effects on the bear may last anywhere from 10-45 minutes. The bear will be disoriented, confused and will likely run away as it will have difficulty seeing and breathing, giving you time to get out of a dangerous situation.
In fact, by spraying a bear that approaches or charges at you with bear spray you might actually be saving its life! When bears get too close to humans, it is the bear that pays the price by getting relocated (only about 30% successful) or destroyed. By spraying the bear, you are giving it a negative experience to teach it a lesson that it is not OK to approach humans. Hopefully this will teach it to stay away from people in the future.
What happens if we spray ourselves? It is not pleasant, and it will sting your eyes, nose, throat and skin and may make you cough and gag. This may last up to two days but the effects will eventually go away. People have so much exposed skin (not fur like a bear) so it affects us longer. Read the first aid instructions on your can of bear spray and wash your skin with cool, clean running water. Do not rub if it gets on your skin. PRO TIP: If you get bear spray in your eyes, rinse it out with baby shampoo and water (remember, do not rub)! A small bottle of baby shampoo is a great addition to your first aid kit.
Where should I carry my bear spray? Bear spray should be carried in an easily accessible location such as a chest or hip holster or a belt, not in your backpack! Whatever option works best for you (most efficient and quickest) is recommended and our personal preference is a belt. Here are several types of examples of holsters and belts that are available at Kodiak Wildlife Products and Scat Belt.
It is not enough to just carry it, you need to be mentally prepared to use it and physically able to pull it out and use it in time when necessary. Surprise encounters with bears can happen in under three seconds so you need to be confident, fast and efficient at pulling out your bear spray. PRACTICE removing your bear spray quickly, but stop short of spraying; conserve your supply for close encounters. See more practice suggestions below.
Does bear spray expire? YES! Be sure to check the expiry date on your can as bear spray normally expires after 3 years. In addition to checking the expiry date on the can, be sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions on the back of the can for proper use of your spray.
Make sure your bear spray is not expired!
Why does bear spray expire? Bear spray is made with capsaicin, a chili pepper extract, and it's not the potency of the spray that diminishes over time. It is actually the propellant that may degrade over time and there may not be enough pressure in the can to effectively spray and distance, you might just get a dribble!
Should you use expired bear spray? NO! It is recommend that you replace your expired bear spray to avoid a situation like this. There is no guarantee that expired bear spray will work properly and you want to give yourself the greatest chance of successfully deterring a bear if/when the time comes.
Should you practice with real bear spray? It is not recommended to practice using actual bear spray as once the seal is broken, small leaks can occur in the can, possibly reducing the performance of the bear spray.
That being said, if you have an expired can of bear spray that you are planning on disposing of properly anyway, it may be a good opportunity for you to practice using real (expired) bear spray. However, if you are going to do this, make sure that you go to an isolated location far away from other people and houses (I.E. NOT IN YOUR BACKYARD, AT YOUR CAMPSITE OR ALONG A TRAIL)! Also make sure you take wind direction into account so that you don’t spray yourself.
The safest way to practice using bear spray is to buy inert training bear spray, which is what we use for our bear spray training sessions as there are no harmful effects if you accidentally spray some on yourself.
How do I dispose of expired cans? In Canmore, you have two options:
Take expired bear spray to the Household Hazardous Waste area (near paint and light bulbs waste) at the 115 Boulder Crescent Recycling Depot (open every day 8:30 - 16:15).
Take it to the New Firehall on Palliser Trail in Canmore and drop it off in the designated bear spray bin (pictured below) by their front doors.
Most cities and communities have Household Hazardous Waste drop-of areas. Never put cans of bear spray in your garbage bins at home! Some designated fire stations in certain communities may accept them (maybe call first and check).
Drop your expired bear spray off in this dedicated bin at the new Firehall in Canmore.
Should I leave my bear spray in my car? NO! It is important to remember not to leave your bear spray in the car on a hot day as it may explode. If you must leave your bear spray in the car, store it in a bear spray safety travel container and out of direct sunlight. When not in use, bear spray should be stored indoors in a safe place out of reach of children.
An example of bear spray that exploded in a car on a hot day. It was messy!
How do I use bear spray? Watch this video on How to Properly Use Bear Spray which is available with subtitles in ten languages.
Factors influencing bear spray performance: In a 2020 publication in the Journal of Wildlife Management, scientists examined the effects of temperature, wind, canister age, and repeated use on bear spray performance. The main takeaway is that bear spray is an important and effective deterrence tool in all areas where bears occur, even if it is windy or cold. Based on the results of this paper, they recommend the following guidelines:
Do not test‐fire cans intended for use in the field
Keep canisters warm when in the cold, tucking them inside a parka or sleeping bag
Retire canisters of bear spray when they are expired
Bear spray could save your life, your friend’s life and also a bear’s life! Carry it year-round!
WILDLIFE AMBASSADOR WORDS OF WISDOM
Living and recreating safely in bear country means understanding many things, from signs that bears are around, to what to do in a bear encounter. As we wander in the wilderness (or even in town sites) we are travelling in a bear’s home: their living areas, dining areas, and even their bathrooms. Recognizing the food sources that bears are currently eating can help raise your awareness of the possibility that bears are around where you are at any given moment. Every month we’re going to look at what bears are eating right now, and for the next few weeks, and in this edition of What are the Bears eating today? by Derek Ryder, Volunteer Wildlife Ambassador & IGA Interpretive Guide, it is Berries.
Welcome to berry season! When it comes to berries, of course we endlessly talk of shepherdia, and that’s an absolutely prime source of berries for bears. There are places in K-Country where there are a LOT fewer shepherdia bushes, or where the berry crop just isn’t as good. If you’re a bear living in that space, what berries do you eat? Well, one berry you DON’T eat are strawberries. Why? We know strawberries are delicious and sweet. Why do bears NOT eat strawberries?
The simple answer is “density”. Anyone who has walked through an alpine meadow can find lots of strawberry plants, but there just aren’t a lot of berries. Bears are eating 200,000 shepherdia berries a day to get the calories they need at this time of year. Anyone who has gone wild strawberry hunting knows Mr. Bear would basically have to lick square miles of ground to find that many strawberries – and he still probably wouldn’t get that many. So while strawberries are tasty, bears just don’t bother, since they’re too much work for too little reward. Click here to read Derek’s article about Berries!
Click on this image of Berries to read the full article!
WEEKLY WILDLIFE AMBASSADOR WHEREABOUTS
In case you have not seen them yet, our amazing Volunteer Wildlife Ambassadors have been heading out onto trails and trailheads. You can find them talking to people about responsible trail use and staying safe while recreating in bear country. Last weekend they were at Grassi Lakes Trailhead. Note: the locations they are stationed at may change at the last minute.
August 3 - Upper Kananaskis Lake
August 3-5: Canmore Folk Fest - Biosphere Institute Booth
Keep an eye out for the Wildlife Ambassadors next time you are out on the trails in the Bow Valley and K-Country and be sure to say ‘hi’ and have a chat with them!
WILDLIFE IN THE NEWS
Grizzly bear bluff charges prompt closures in Kananaskis Country.
Well-known mama grizzly bear and her cubs survive Jasper's destructive wildfire.
Jasper wildfire: GPS collar reveals how bear and 2 cubs survived flames.
Wildlife, including Bear 222 and her cubs, dodge flames of Jasper wildfire.
How will the Jasper wildfire affect wildlife?
60-year-old Shamattawa First Nation man believed to have been killed by bear.
7-year-old boy bear sprayed in string of attacks sparks ‘concern’ from Saskatoon police.
Opinion: Black bears and human conflict— expert insights.
Italy: Bear shot dead after attack on hiker.
Unafraid cougars: BC Conservation asks Keremeos residents to promptly report sightings.
Black bear destroys car after being stuck inside in Connecticut.
Watch: Curious bobcat on North Vancouver trail among recent big cat sightings.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT?
Bear scat can be an indication of bear activity in the area. During berry season bear scat looks a lot like strawberry jam! Keep an eye out for it on the trails and do not linger in areas with fresh scat. If you do stumble upon some fresh scat out on the trails, remember to be extra vigilant, make extra noise to alert potential bears of your presence, and consider turning around if you are not prepared to handle a possible encounter with a bear. Always have your bear spray readily accessible!
This is what 200,000 berries looks like when it comes out as bear scat!
A positive proactive step that you can take is to remove unripe fruit (such as crabapple, mountain ash and chokecherry) from your trees NOW before you have a bear in your tree. Leaving fruit in your trees can attract bears into residential areas, putting bears and people at risk. For example, mountain ash berries are looking to be abundant in Canmore this year and should be removed before they ripen. It is YOUR responsibility to make sure that bears do not have a reason to linger in your yard, resulting in bears being relocated or destroyed. Since the berry crop this year is poor, it is likley that bears will be coming into town this fall looking for easy meals in fruit trees!
WildSmart has pruning shears and extendable pole saw pruners and fruit pickers that can be borrowed (free of charge) to assist Bow Valley residents in removing fruit and berry bushes from their property. Please send an email to resource@biosphereinstitute.org to make arrangements to borrow the fruit removal equipment.
Homeowners are invited to express their interest in participating in the Town of Canmore’s Fruit Tree Removal Incentive program which will cover 100% of the pre-tax cost of removal of the fruit tree(s) or bush(es) by an arborist or tree removal service up to $500/property. This program is first-come first-served while funds are available so apply now!
AND NOW SOME PAWS-ITIVE NEWS
The Canmore Folk Festival is this weekend (August 3-5) and in addition to managing the incredible Green Team volunteers to divert as much waste as possible from the landfill throughout the weekend, we will also have an interactive Biosphere Booth manned by dedicated and passionate volunteers, including Wildlife Ambassadors. Our booth will showcase the work we do at the Biosphere Institute such as improving human-wildlife coexistence, empowering our youth to take action on climate change and learning more about renewable energy and energy transitions in Alberta. We will again have our crowd-gathering renewable energy attraction: a bicycle-powered phone charging station with LED/incandescent lighting, voltage meters, and even a fan to cool down perspiring cyclists. Come on by our booth and say hi!
NOTE: Our Green Team is still looking for more volunteers to help with the Folk Fest’s waste diversion initiative. Last year we proudly aided in diverting 91.2% of the event’s waste out of landfills. Let’s keep raising that number! All volunteers will receive a free full weekend pass to the Folk Fest! It’s a great opportunity to get involved with the community, help the planet, and listen to some great tunes. Sign up here and indicate you would like to help with the "Environment Team.”
Wildlife Ambassador Sandy teaching our youth about wildlife safety at the Biosphere booth at the Canmore Folk Fest last year!
CURRENT JOB OPPORTUNITIES
The Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley seeks to contract a full-time Environmental Educator & Program Coordinator. This full-time maternity leave contract position will deliver, coordinate and manage funding for all Future Leaders programs. The Future Leaders program seeks to educate and improve the ecological literacy of children and youth in the Bow Valley, and is one of three key programs of the Biosphere Institute.
Click here for the full job description and application details. Applications are due by 5pm MST on August 20th. To apply, please send an email including your resumé & cover letter with the subject title “Future Leaders, Maternity Leave Contract” to education@biosphereinstitute.org.
Click on the image for the full job description and application details!
Please remember BEARS CAN BE ENCOUNTERED ANYWHERE, ANYTIME!
Report any sightings of a bear, cougar, wolf or any aggressive wildlife in Kananaskis Country or the Bow Valley to Kananaskis Dispatch at 403.591.7755