Did you know that WildSmart is one of three programs of the Biosphere Institute, a local charity? Our work relies entirely on donations and sponsors.
If you would like to support our community-based efforts to promote human-wildlife coexistence, please donate!
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 (June 13-20, 2024)
(Banff National Park East Gate to Bow Valley Provincial Park)
Bears are feeding in the valley bottoms, along trails and roadside, where most of their available food is located. People are primarily using the valley bottoms (where the bears are), resulting in a large number of sightings of both grizzly and black bears throughout the Bow Valley, including in residential areas, as well as in Kananaskis Country. Take home lesson: Expect to run into a bear while out on the trails!
Remember to make lots of noise (yell, shout) to let wildlife know you are coming down the trail to avoid surprise encounters, and give them time to move off of the trail. Travel in groups (ideally four or more), keep pets on a leash and carry bear spray and be prepared to use it in case of a close encounter. Even if you are going for a leisurely walk around Canmore you should be carrying bear spray and always be mentally prepared to encounter bears throughout the Bow and Kananaskis Valleys. If you know of or have heard of bear activity in a given area, please consider recreating elsewhere!
Grizzly bear feeding on green grass roadside on June 16, 2024.
Bears and other wildlife continue to be seen on and near roads. Remember to obey speed limits and slow down when passing wildlife but don’t stop and always stay in your vehicle! Never get out of your vehicle to get closer to a bear that is roadside - it stresses out and disturbs the bear, and is potentially dangerous for you, the bear and other motorists. Never approach bears as they can be unpredictable, especially these days during mating season, with many unkown male bears hanging around. Give bears at least 100m of space at all times and do not linger near wildlife feeding roadside - keep moving along! Be extra vigilant at dawn, dusk and during night time hours to avoid collisions with wildlife.
To help give these bears the space they need to feed undisturbed, “No Stopping Zones” have been put in place along Highway 40 in K-Country. The safety and well-being of wildlife is far more important than you getting that perfect picture. Never feed wildlife or encourage wildlife to come closer to you or your vehicle. OBEY ALL NO STOPPING ZONES - they are there for a reason! The Friends of Kananaskis Country have some great Tips for Roadside Wildlife Viewing for motorists and cyclists.
OBEY ALL NO STOPPING ZONES - they are there for a reason!
Most mother elk have now had their calves and the youngsters are up and running around. Female elk will still aggressively defend their calves by kicking and charging at you if they feel threatened. The presence of calves also attracts predators such as bears, cougars, wolves and coyotes so be aware of your surroundings, even on popular and well visited trails around town and along the river.
Elk calves are often hidden in dense vegetation along the trails so extra vigilance is required. The best way to keep them at ease is to stay at least 30m away - which is three school bus lengths. If you see any elk, immediately leave the area and DO NOT TRY TO SNEAK PAST THEM. Even bikers should not be trying to sneak past elk on the trails. Stay on open trails instead of walking through dense vegetation, keep pets on a leash and always carry bear spray and be prepared to use it when recreating anywhere in the valley.
Some elk calves up and running around in Canmore. Archived photo.
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
Remember to give wildlife the space they need, which is at least 100 metres for carnivores such as bears! That includes bears feeding roadside, elk feeding along trails, squirrels looking for food and bighorn sheep standing in the middle of the road. The safety and well-being of wildlife is far more important than you getting that perfect picture. Be sure to slow down appropriately while passing wildlife roadside but do not stop. Stay in your vehicle and keep moving to avoid putting any unwanted stress on the animals. Never feed wildlife or encourage wildlife to come closer to you or your vehicle. That includes smaller animals such as squirrels when you are out having your picnic.
This video really emphasizes the importance of giving wildlife the space they need and deserve!
WILDLIFE AMBASSADOR WORDS OF WISDOM
Wildlife Ambassador Karen is back to remind people to respect all wildlife and leave the flowers for others to enjoy. Not only is picking wildflowers illegal in Alberta parks, but picking flowers actually kills some plants.
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 out at the Canmore Engine Bridge, the Highway 40 Road Closure near Highwood Pass in K-Country and in West Bragg Creek. Note: locations they are stationed at may change at the last minute.
June 22 - Annual Wildlife Ambassador Training so you won’t see them on the trails this weekend!
WILDLIFE IN THE NEWS
Four grizzly bear deaths in Yoho National Park prompt calls for wildlife summit.
Hunter attacked after shooting bear in B.C.'s Okanagan.
Caught on video: Bear damages home in Port Coquitlam, B.C.
Bear triggers lockdown of Burnaby school in B.C.
'Huge' grizzly bear stops runners, 'pawses' Banff Marathon.
Caught on video: B.C. bear opens car door, steals carton of milk.
Rowdy bear cubs spotted playing in Kamloops' Peterson Creek.
Black bear fight caught on video in Yukon wilderness.
Grizzly bear seen chasing down moose in wild Montana video.
Black bear breaks into Manitoba cabin, helps self to food.
Five grizzly bear cubs make the largest litter in Yellowstone-area history.
National Cougar Day: The crucial ecological role of cougars.
Driver barely misses cougar on Hwy 97 in Oliver, B.C.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT?
Be proactive and remove berry bushes and fruit trees from your yards NOW before you attract a bear into town. Your tree blossoms will blossom into bear problems later! 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.
In an effort to reduce conflict between bears and people in Canmore, the Town of Canmore is running their voluntary fruit tree removal incentive program again. Homeowners are invited to express their interest in participating in the 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. The program is first-come first-served while funds are available. Click here for more details.
Your crabapple tree blossoms will blossom into bear problems later! Replace them with a non-fruit bearing alternative!
AND NOW SOME PAWS-ITIVE NEWS
With all the negative bear-related news recently, this week we want to put a smile on your face! Sometimes you have an itch that you just HAVE to scratch. Click the image below for the video.
On a related note, our friends at fRI Research have some great footage of bears and other wildlife enjoying the scent lures they set up at their hair snag sites to collect DNA for monitoring grizzly bear populations and gathering health information. Click here to watch fRI’s the videos!
CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES
The Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley is hiring a part-time Financial Controller. This is a continuous intake process and we’ll hold interviews with suitable candidates during July 2024, and work and onboarding will commence during the summer months. The work schedule will be flexible and we anticipate that this work will occupy an average of ten hours per month.
In your cover letter, please be specific in how your abilities and work experience qualify you for this position. Application submission via e-mail is preferred, however alternative methods of submission such as in-person and video will be accepted. If you are applying by email please send your cover letter, resume, and work references as a single pdf file to gareth@biosphereinstitute.org with ‘Application for Financial Controller position’ in the subject line of the e-mail message.
Click here for the full job description and eligibility requirements!
UPCOMING EVENTS
June 21 - Traditional Powwow in Mînî Thnî
Celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day this Friday, June 21 at the Mînî Thnî Rec Centre Arena. This event is a great opportunity to celebrate graduates from the Mînî Thnî Community School and get to know the community and culture. The Town of Canmore is providing free transportation to and from the event as per the following schedule:
10:30 a.m. Check in with event host at Elevation Place. If you are driving to Elevation Place, please park in the panhandle to access parking for longer than 4-hours.
11 a.m. Busses depart Canmore for the Mînî Thnî Rec Centre Arena
12 p.m. Arrival at the Mînî Thnî Rec Centre Arena
2:30 p.m. Bus departs from the Mînî Thnî Rec Centre Arena
3:30 p.m. Arrival at Elevation Place
No advance booking is required; however, bus seating is on a first come, first served basis until no seats remain. Click here for more info!
June - CANMORE BREW CO. CHARITY TAP!
Join us for the entire month of June at the Canmore Brew Co. for a beer in support of the Biosphere Institute! Half of all profits of the featured, award-winning charity tap (Highline Lager) will be donated to the Biosphere! We are so grateful for this partnership and look forward to hosting a few events there throughout the month:
Clean Commute Challenge! All month! Every day in June that you walk, cycle, take public transit, or use any other form of low-carbon transportation, you can enter the draw for some amazing prizes. (Click to learn more)
June 27 - Wilderness Wanderers
Wilderness Wanderers is a nature exploration workshop that encourages parents and children ages 3-6 to explore the outdoors together. This program is in partnership with the Family Connection Centre and is designed to teach essential hiking skills, foster a love for nature, and create lasting memories. Families will participate in a guided hike to discover the wonders of nature and learn about safety, wildlife, and environmental stewardship. Our experienced facilitators will lead you on exciting trails and outdoor adventures, sharing stories and experiences along the way. Whether it’s a leisurely walk through the woods or an adventurous mountain hike, Wilderness Wanderers provides valuable experiences for both parents and kids alike! June 27 from 9:30am to 12:00pm.
Click here to register now! (Please only register one person per family)
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