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The information below is based upon 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 SUMMARY (May 6-12, 2022)
(Banff National Park East Gate to Bow Valley Provincial Park)
This past week we've had an increase in bear sightings. Several female bears with cubs (grizzly and black) have been spotted looking for food in both the Bow and Kananaskis Valleys. Often found roadside, they are feeding on grass and digging for roots. Be observant on the highway to avoid collisions with bears. Deer, elk and sheep are also feeding roadside right now and so extra caution is needed, especially at night!
When using the trails, people should be thinking about bears and be prepared for possible encounters anywhere in the Bow Valley. Make lots of noise to alert them to your presence, carry bear spray in an accessible location, and know how to use it!
Elk calving season will be starting any day now. Mother elk can become very protective of their calves, aggressively kicking or charging if they feel threatened. The best way to keep them at ease is to stay at least 30m away - which is three school bus lengths, and not try to sneak past them!
Make sure to give mother bears, elk and their young lots of space as they are particularly protective of their babies!
Grizzly bear family digging for food on May 10, 2022 in Kananaskis Country.
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
The ditches along the highways are greening up - drawing all kinds of wildlife roadside looking for springtime food (some of the best snow-free areas are along the highway ditches). Roadside feeding is critical for bears at this time of year! We ALL need to drive responsibly and constantly scan for wildlife feeding roadside. We ALL need to do the following to avoid injuring or killing wildlife:
OBEY SPEED LIMITS
OBEY “NO STOPPING SIGNS”
SAFE VIEWING DISTANCE FOR BEARS IS 100M, BUT YOU MUST ALWAYS OBEY ALL TRAFFIC LAWS!
IF YOU SEE A BEAR ROADSIDE, SLOW DOWN AND CONTINUE DRIVING PAST
DO NOT STOP TO VIEW WILDLIFE AND ALWAYS STAY IN YOUR VEHICLE!
AVOID CAUSING BEAR JAMS THAT CAUSE UNNECESSARY STRESS AND UNSAFE CONDITONS FOR BEARS
Photo by Misha Mustaqeem
WILDLIFE IN THE NEWS
Some great reminders in this article from Revelstoke B.C. about bears being more active this spring.
Here are some tips from Utah wildlife officials to stay safe near cougars.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT?
Residents need to take some responsibility in the management of bears in their area by ensuring unnatural food sources that bears might be interested in are secure (for example: bird feeders, garbage, pet food, greasy bbq’s). Find out more in this article, that has some great reminders about properly securing attractants around your home.
WILDLIFE AMBASSADOR WORDS OF WISDOM
Some more great tips from Wildlife Ambassador Karen!
AND NOW SOME PAWS-ITIVE NEWS
In honour of Mother’s Day, hopefully this video puts a smile on your face and makes you think about how hard it is for mother bears to keep themselves and their cubs safe in this dangerous world. This video does an excellent job of vocalizing what it can be like to be a parent, specifically a mother. It is hard work taking care of four cubs for a mother bear and if you add to that cars speeding and people stopping to take pictures and stressing them out, it makes it even harder. It is pawsitive to see these cars waiting patiently while she struggles to get her cubs across safely!
IMPORTANT REMINDERS!
Thank you to everyone who has helped us fill the spots at our upcoming CASINO! This is a wonderful opportunity for our organization to raise significant funds! The casino will be held on Wednesday 25 May and Thursday 26 May at the ACE Casino Blackfoot, located at 42 Ave SE Calgary. Your food, travel, and accommodation are free if you volunteer.
We still have the following 6 shifts available so please sign up today:
May 25 & 26, 11:15pm - 3:30am: COUNT ROOM SUPERVISOR (NIGHT SHIFT)
May 26, 6:45pm - 3:30am: GENERAL MANAGER (NIGHT SHIFT)
May 26, 11:15pm - 3:30am: COUNT ROOM VOLUNTEERS x3 (NIGHT SHIFT)
Final reminder that we are accepting new Volunteer Wildlife Ambassadors for this season! If you are interested in joining the Wildlife Ambassador Team, please fill out an online application by clicking on the button below! Applications are due by 11:59pm on Sunday May 15th, 2022. Interviews will take place at the end of May, with training starting in June.
EVENTS
Register for this FREE Interactive Bear Aware webinar on Wednesday May 18th at 7pm hosted by the Town of Banff and Parks Canada! The 60-minute online session will be led by two Parks Canada wildlife specialists and includes a presentation on how to identify different types of bears, common bear behaviours and tools and tips to prevent bear encounters. Click here to register!
Canmore’s first Electric Vehicle Expo will take place at Elevation Place on Saturday, May 28, in partnership with Bow Valley Climate Action Society! The event is open to the public from 10am - 4pm. There is no registration required and the event is free.
Come by to see our exhibitors including local businesses, community organizations, and electric vehicle owners and enthusiasts. There will be cars, e-bikes, and electric motorcycles to see, and prizes to win, so you don’t want to miss out!
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 Emergency Services at 403.591.7755