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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 (Nov.10-17, 2022)
(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.
One grizzly bear who has been in the news this past week who is not yet in his den is M122, aka “The Boss”. Male bears often stay out of their dens longer searching for last minute calories, and collar data have shown that some males like to stay out on the landscape into mid-December, and even into January (for instance the Boss is often seen along the great divide ski trail by Lake Louise until at least New Year). With this in mind, it is important that we don’t become complacent when heading out on the trails and that we are mentally prepared for possible encounters with wildlife! We also need to make sure we do not leave any attractants outside for bears to eat.
It is hunting season! Please be aware of your surroundings and stay clear of dead animals. Hunters should always carry and use bear spray as the first line of defense, even if they are carrying a gun.
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.
Elk hanging out at a school in Canmore on Nov.15, 2022.
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
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.
KEEP DOGS ON-LEASH as it could save your life, your dog’s life and a bear’s life! Also remember to pick up after your dogs as their feces can act as an attractant for 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 which are active year-round such as cougars, wolves, coyotes and elk.
WILDLIFE IN THE NEWS
A Banff photographer encounters 'The Boss', the most dominant grizzly bear in the Bow Valley.
It is winter here, but warm enough in Ontario that bears are still out and about.
Banff bison herd should remain on the landscape, Parks Canada says in draft pilot report.
Watch this black bear react after sniffing a tree that had presumably been claimed by porcupines. Here is just the video footage.
Two cougars euthanized, one still at large in Kamloops area after eating pets.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT?
Public Engagement for the Report on the Plains Bison Reintroduction Pilot 2017-2022
Help guide the discussion for the future of plains bison in Banff National Park! In 2017, Parks Canada made history by reintroducing plains bison to Banff National Park’s eastern slopes. Now in 2022, approaching the end of the five-year Plains Bison Reintroduction Pilot, the original 16 translocated animals have adapted to Banff’s mountain environment and remained healthy, growing to more than 80 animals. Reintroducing bison to Banff National Park returns a key native species to the landscape.
The public engagement program for the Report on the Plains Bison Reintroduction Pilot 2017-2022 has launched. Parks Canada is seeking Indigenous, stakeholder, and public feedback on the draft report to help determine next steps for bison management over the next ten years and beyond.
The public comment period will run from November 9, 2022, to December 14, 2022. During engagement, Canadians will have the opportunity to share their thoughts about the reintroduction pilot, provide comments on the draft Report, and about the future of bison in Canada’s first national park.
AND NOW SOME PAWS-ITIVE NEWS
A recent study was published on the impact and cost effectiveness of wildlife crossing structures in two sections of the TCH, one in Banff and one in Dead Man's Flats. They found that collisions declined for common ungulates species (elk, mule deer, and white-tailed deer) by up to 96% but not for large carnivores. When factoring in the cost of ungulate collisions to society, fencing provided a net economic gain within 1 year of construction. Over a 10-year period, fencing would provide a net economic gain of > $500,000 per km in reduced collisions. The study highlights the benefits of long-term monitoring of road mitigation projects and provides evidence of fencing effectiveness for reducing wildlife–vehicle collisions involving large mammals.
From the study, Figure 1: Map showing the location of wildlife vehicle collisions along the Trans-Canada Highway in Banff National Park [top] and Dead Mans Flats [bottom], AB, Canada between 1998 and 2010. Green points represent the location of collisions in the control section and purple points are the location of collisions in the impact section.
A new safety feature that provides customers peace of mind is now available in the US and Canada across the iPhone 14 lineup — Emergency SOS via satellite. Users can now message emergency services without Wi-Fi or cell service. Find out more info here.
Emergency SOS via satellite enables users to message with emergency services while outside of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Y2Y Wild Film Fest: Breaking Barriers | A free virtual film fest
On Friday, November 25th, join Y2Y for a virtual film festival that will educate, entertain and inspire you in your love of nature and the outdoors. Immerse yourself in barrier-breaking films about people and nature that show how important our connection the living world is.
Enjoy three films that explore a different part of the Yellowstone to Yukon region and tell a unique story of perseverance and hope. Tickets are free. Join us for all three films, or just the ones that interest you. Replays available until Monday, Nov. 28. Each film will be presented live, and followed by an engaging panel discussion featuring the filmmaker.
Once numbering in the tens of millions, these magnificent creatures played a significant role in the varied ecosystems they occupied, and North American Indigenous Peoples depended upon them.
With the arrival of Europeans, the buffalo were all exterminated, along with their millennia-old intricate food webs and inter-species relationships. Despite this brush with extinction, the buffalo survived, and are slowly recovering. Alongside their recovery, the relationships once shared with thousands of species are being re-established in a remarkable process of ecological healing.
Based on Wes Olson’s 35 years of working intimately with bison – and featuring Johane Janelle’s stunning photography – The Ecological Buffalo takes a journey through the myriad connections this keystone species has with the Great Plains.
Location: Whyte Museum in their main gallery. Please pre-register here.
If you are not able to attend in-person, you can join them for the live zoom broadcast!
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