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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 UPDATE (Nov.9-16, 2023)

(Banff National Park East Gate to Bow Valley Provincial Park)

There have been no recent bear sightings reported in the Bow Valley and GPS data is showing that collared grizzly bears in Kananaskis Country have gone into their dens. That being said, there are still a few grizzly bears out and about on the landscape searching for last minute calories. It is important that we don’t become complacent when heading out on the trails and that we continue to be mentally prepared for possible encounters with wildlife!

Male bears often stay out of their dens longer searching for last minute calories, and remote camera and collar data have shown that some males like to stay out on the landscape into mid-December, and even into January (for instance male grizzly bear 122 aka “the Boss” is often seen along the great divide ski trail by Lake Louise until at least New Year). Here is an article from exactly one-year ago about “The Boss.” With this in mind, we need to make sure we do not leave any attractants outside for bears to eat.

Large male grizzly bears such as this one are likely still out and about! Photo by Amar Athwal.

The elk rut is over but numerous elk continue to be seen all throughout town which means you have to be alert and you may have to choose an alternate route while out for a walk/run/ride. Give plenty of space to ALL ELK (at least 30 metres or 3 bus lengths) and do not try to sneak past them on the trail! Never approach elk for ANY reason and keep your pets on a leash.

Bow hunting season is still open in the Bow Valley. Due to the nature of the activity, hunters need to be cautious as they are intentionally quiet on the landscape. If you are recreating, please remain alert of your surroundings, avoid dead animals and always carry bear spray. Everyone, including hunters, should remain aware of their surroundings and also be prepared with bear spray and know how to use it!

VIEW CURRENT WARNINGS AND CLOSURES

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

Bear den locations may surprise you. When you think about a bear den, what comes to mind? A hollow tree? A cozy cave? How about a pile of abandoned tires? Or under your porch? Bears can den up in all those places and many more. Click here to find out more from our friends at BearWise.

Even though the bears have or will enter their dens soon, there are still many species that do not hibernate (i.e. cougars, wolves, coyotes, deer and elk). You should always be mentally prepared for possible encounters with wildlife as they can be encountered anywhere at anytime. To reduce the risk of encounters with wildlife:

Make lots of noise in order to alert them to your presence and avoid recreating at dusk, dawn or at night which is when wildlife is most active.
Hike/bike/run/ski in a group and keep children close by.
Be aware of your surroundings (look and listen for wildlife and their signs, including tracks and scat) and be sure to check behind you while on the trails to make sure there are no animals following you. That includes not wearing earbuds/headphones, which will limit your ability to hear approaching wildlife.
Carry bear spray YEAR-ROUND in an easily accessible location (not in your backpack), know how to use it and use it if required. It is also effective against wildlife that are active year-round such as cougars, wolves, coyotes and elk.
KEEP DOGS ON-LEASH as it could save your life, your dog’s life and a bear’s life! Consider leaving them at home to give tired mlae elk and deer some peace and quiet and time to recover from the busy and stressful rutting season.

Wolves in the snow. Photo by Eva Blue on Unsplash.

WILDLIFE IN THE NEWS

Bear genes show circadian rhythms even during hibernation.
Video about why bears are feeling more at home near people.
B.C. trapper raising alarm about bears being burned in logging slash piles.
Mountain biker warns Pemberton locals after hearing cougar's 'chirping'.
BC Hydro scrambles to tranquilize and remove bears hibernating in Site C dam flood zone before waters rise.
Rare bear helps Alberta photographer win international contest.
Family to set up endowment in memory of couple killed by bear in Banff National Park.
For 20,000 years, polar bears have been retreating due to rising sea temperatures.
Searching for white Spirit bears in B.C.’s rainforest.
Giant Yukon grizzly bear provides riveting trail-cam moment.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT?

Please ensure that your yards are free of ALL attractants so that bears do not find anything to eat and subsequently get into trouble! As a reminder, please do not put out bird feeders yet as they could potentially attract bears into your yard. In Canmore, bird feeders are not allowed to be used during bear season between April 1 to November 30.

Also remember to pick up after your dogs as their feces can act as an attractant for wildlife. Doggy poop bags need to be disposed of properly in bear-proof bins, not left on or alongside the trails…see video below!

Here is a great short video about the Invasive Doggy Poop Bag!

AND NOW SOME PAWS-ITIVE NEWS

Our very own Wildlife Ambassador Derek Ryder, who provides bear report readers with informative and very useful “Words of Wisdom and Mythbusting” throughout the season, will be delivering an awesome and insightful presentation titled “There's a Bear on my Street! A conversation about urban wildlife" on Monday evening at 7pm at the Canmore Public Library.

This talk is FREE and registration is required to attend in-person - Click here to register now!

Derek will cover topics such as:

Encountering bears and other wildlife in the wilderness is good; having them in the urban environment is problematic
Strategies that could help in preventing bear removal or relocation from our towns
What you should do if there’s wildlife (like a bear) in YOUR neighbourhood
The consequences of reporting (or intentionally not reporting) bears in town

We’ll have a Q&A period and discussion after the presentation and we want to hear from you! We look forward to discussing…

How do YOU think we SHOULD be dealing with urban wildlife?
Do you report bear sightings or do you intentionally not report bears because you think that will result in the bear getting killed?
Are you concerned about the fact that bears continue to be relocated and killed after being drawn into town by people allowing fruit to accumulate on their trees?
Do you think it would be a real shame if Banff’s most famous grizzly bear, ‘The Boss’, was killed for feeding in fruit trees?

For those who are not able to attend in-person, you can join online via Zoom by clicking here. (Registration is not required when viewing via Zoom).

We are excited about our Square Dance Fundraiser happening tomorrow night at the Cornerstone Theatre in Canmore! Tickets are sold out and we look forward to a night of boot-stompin' fun with you all!

UPCOMING EVENTS

NOV.18 - CUBS, COFFEE & CONNECTIONS

Join WildSmart at the Family Connection Centre in Canmore from 9:00-11:45 a.m. on Saturday Nov.18 for a cup of coffee (or tea) and learn about how to coexist safely with wildlife while meeting other families in the community. There will be interactive stations such as a bear spray demonstration, songs, dances and crafts to learn how to live smart with wildlife and more.

This free drop-in program is for parents, caregivers and young children ages 0-6. Families may join and leave at any point. Coffee and tea will be provided for free.

Nov.19 - Living Sustainably Speaker Series II: Coexisting with Wildlife

The Cochrane Environmental Action Committee (CEAC) is excited to present Living Sustainably Series II, a series of presentations for Cochrane area residents. Their next presentation is about Coexisting with Wildlife on Sunday, November 19 from 2:00 - 3:30 pm at the Frank Wills Memorial Hall, 405-1 St E, Cochrane, AB.

Join Kennedy Halvorson (she/her) MES, BSc Biochemistry, a Conservation Specialist with Alberta Wilderness Association to learn about our local biodiversity, including societal benefits, some common misconceptions, and how to be a good neighbour to local wildlife. Sessions are free to attend but registration is required!

Nov.28 - Bow Valley Naturalists presents: Degrowth or Collapse? By Andrew Nikiforuk

Tuesday November 28th 7:30-9:00 p.m. at artsPlace, Canmore. It's free but registration is required to attend in-person for the live event.

The presentation will also be Livestreamed online here. The online broadcast does not require registration.

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

Bear Report - Nov.16, 2023