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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.
Canmore Area Trails Strategy - we need your voice!
The Canmore Area Trails Strategy (CATS) is our best chance to get good trails – and keep wildlife – in the Bow Valley. Our nature is at risk: in this wonderful valley that we call home, we need better management to protect our precious ecosystem. Click here to learn more and make your voice heard by the deadline of July 24!
BEAR ACTIVITY UPDATE (July 11-18, 2024)
(Banff National Park East Gate to Bow Valley Provincial Park)
There continue to be steady sightings of bears throughout the Bow Valley and Kananaskis Country, especially along trails, roads, in and around town, and in the valley bottoms where most of their available food is located. On that note, Buffaloberries (Shepherdia) are starting to ripen up and although the berry crop is not looking great this year, bears will still be focused on eating as many berries as possible so they can survive the winter. As such, people need to be prepared to see bears on the trails and to respectfully give them space to feed undisturbed! There have been a number of close encounters (with both hikers and bikers) as bears have their heads down feeding on buffaloberries.
It is important to note that buffaloberries are often found in sunny areas along trails, roads, and recreation areas. Trail users should always expect to encounter a bear while out on the trails or at day use areas. Bears will have their heads down focused on eating berries and not paying attention, so it is up to all of us to make lots of noise to alert them of our presence to help avoid those surprise encounters.
Earlier this week, a black bear killed a small dog in a Cougar Creek backyard in Canmore and returned the next morning to feed on the remains of the dog and take a nap. The bear was highly habituated and showed signs of depredation. As per the Black Bear Response guide, it was determined that it needed to be euthanized. This serves as a good reminder to ensure your backyard is free of all wildlife attractants, including birdfeeders, pet food, garbage, compost, greasy bbq’s and fruit trees.
Grizzly bear with three cubs in K-Country on July 15, 2024.
Even though elk calving season is winding down, this is no time to become complacent. Mother elk will still aggressively defend their calves if they feel threatened by people getting too close! Never approach elk for any reason, stay at least 30 metres (3 school bus lengths) away from all elk and DO NOT TRY TO SNEAK PAST THEM on a trail! Keep pets on a leash. It is a good idea to be carrying your bear spray whenever you leave the house to go out for a walk, run, or ride around Canmore.
Mother moose with calf in K-Country this past week.
VIEW CURRENT WARNINGS AND CLOSURES
Bear Closure: Rawson Lake Trail and Basin including Sarrail Ridge due to multiple grizzly bears in the area (see map of affected area below).
Bear Warning - Lake Louise Parking Lots, Day Use Area and Lakeshore Trail, Fairview Lookout Trail and area.
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
Berry season is here and there have already been sightings of bears feasting on delicious ripe buffaloberries! They take this job very seriously, eating up to 200,000 berries per day and focusing on it for over 20 hours per day! As such, bears will have their heads down feeding on berries. They can be very defensive of their berry bushes, especially if surprised. We need to make extra noise and be vigilant (that means NOT wearing headphones/earbuds) when travelling through bear country.
Shepherdia canadensis, more commonly known as Buffaloberry. Photos taken on July 18, 2024 on the north side of the valley near Canmore. Red berries are most common but they can also be orange or yellow.
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!
During berry season bear scat looks a lot like strawberry jam!
WILDLIFE AMBASSADOR WORDS OF WISDOM
Wildlife Ambassador Derek talks about Shepherdia, the plant bears dream about all year long!
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 Heart Creek in the Bow Valley and Fullerton & Allen Bill Day Use Areas in the Elbow Valley. Note: the locations they are stationed at may change at the last minute.
July 20 - Parks Day at Boulton Bridge Day Use Area
July 21 - Banff Central Park and Rec. Grounds
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
Calls for change as record 76 black bears killed in one B.C. city.
Alberta grizzly hunters will get to keep the carcass when called on to euthanize bears.
Grizzly Bear Refuge at KHMR: Boo’s Wild Home.
One number tells a shocking story about wild mammals.
Japan wants to make it easier to shoot bears as attacks rise.
Woman calmly talks to huge grizzly bear while hiking in park.
RCMP rescue bear that locked itself inside car in Belcarra, B.C.
Pair of bear encounters in two residential areas in B.C. serve as good reminders.
“A litter of five cubs would be a first for grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem.”
After 19-year-old woman mauled to death, Romania authorizes the killing of nearly 500 bears.
Bear sightings on rise near Sandy Hook, north of Winnipeg.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT?
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, cherries are still a few weeks away but can 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.
An example of some unripe cherries that are ready to be removed!
Apply now for the Town of Canmore’s Fruit Tree Removal Incentive to get cash back of up to $500/property for removing fruit trees from your yard. New this year - Condos or commercial properties with five or more trees for removal may be eligible for additional support (up to $1000/property) for 2024 only. This program is first-come first-served so apply now!
AND NOW SOME PAWS-ITIVE NEWS
Last weekend we had nine Wildlife Ambassadors (including four of our new Ambassadors) out at Fullerton & Allen Bill Day Use Areas in the Elbow Valley. They had a great day and were able to pass on their wilderness wisdom to many trail users, as well as getting some quality time together to get to know each other better! Story of the day: “After chatting with a large group of people about bear spray and where to get it, two of the group members left and returned 15 minutes later with their brand new cans of bear spray in hand ready to tackle the trails safely!” - (See picture below). Way to go Ambassadors, keep up the great work!
Pictured clockwise from L to R: Wildlife Ambassadors Susan M, Hendrik, Gustavo, Susan R, Laura & Delphine!
CURRENT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Come volunteer with us at this year’s Canmore Folk Fest! Our Green Team is 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 that you would like to help with the "Environment Team.”
UPCOMING EVENTS
July 20 - Parks Day 2024!
Join Alberta Parks staff for their Parks Day celebration on Saturday July 20 from 11am-2pm at Boulton Bridge Day Use Area in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park.
This free family friendly public event will have a variety of talks, games, interactive displays, a LIVE Interpretive Show, guided bear walks, and cake eating! Our Wildlife Ambassadors will also be there with their hands-on interactive booth. Come on by, learn how to use bear spray and chat with them about responsible trail use, managing wildlife attractants, and how we can all work together to improve human-wildlife coexistence. Click here for the schedule of events and more info!
NOTE: Parks Day on Saturday July 20 is a Kananaskis Conservation Pass FREE day!
July 20 & 21 - Métis Plant Identification Walks in Banff National Park
Enjoy a leisurely walk to identify local plants from an Indigenous perspective. Learn how plants of the Rocky Mountains are used for food & medicine by Alberta's Métis communities, with stories from a Métis herbalist. The gentle pace of this tour is suitable for most participants & their families. Please wear weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable walking shoes. FREE with national park entry! Summer interpretive programming info at the Banff National Park learning experiences page.
Sat. July 20 - Raven’s Nest Theatre, Tunnel Mountain Campground Village I (Time: 4-5pm)
Sun. July 21 - Welcome Building at the Cave & Basin National Historic Site (Time: 1-2pm)
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