Did you know that WildSmart is a program 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!
BEAR ACTIVITY SUMMARY FOR THE BOW VALLEY
(Banff National Park East Gate to Bow Valley Provincial Park)
For the period: September 13 to September 20, 2019
SUMMARY
Bears continue to be seen on both sides of the Bow Valley in residential areas in and around Canmore and the M.D. of Bighorn hamlets, feeding in backyard fruit trees! This serves as another reminder that you can help keep bears safe and wild by removing fruit and other attractants (such as bird feeders, garbage, pet food and greasy BBQ’s) from your yard.
Removing the fruit from trees in your yard is recommended, but removing the fruit tree itself is the best practice. Fruit trees can be replaced with ornamental, non-fruit bearing trees, that produce beautiful blossoms but are not wildlife attractants. Bears that get into fruit trees can cause extensive damage to the trees (as shown below) with the end result of the tree dying and often having to be replaced anyways. Click here for more information about fruit trees and bears.
In an continued effort to reduce conflict between bears and people in Canmore, the Town of Canmore recently amended their wildlife attractant bylaw, and they are running a Voluntary Fruit Tree Removal Program. You can learn more about these initiatives on their website here.
With elk rutting season in full swing, you may hear some loud bugling! Male elk are particularly protective of the female elk they are with and they may become aggressive towards anything that comes too close, even trucks (see the picture below and read this article from a year ago). Give plenty of space to elk (more than 30 meters), never get between a male elk and a female elk, and be sure to keep pets on-leash. If an elk does charge be prepared to use your bear spray. Try to move behind a large object (e.g. car, large tree) and keep the object between you and the elk. Never approach elk to take pictures up close. Remember: they are wild animals that need their space and they can react unpredictably!
Four holes made by a charging bull elk when this truck was stopped at a traffic light.
Photo courtesy of Parks Canada
Elk frequently hang out in wide open fields such as school yards and playing fields around town. An idea for parents: have a conversation with your children about giving wildlife lots of space and calmly leaving the area if they see elk or other wildlife.
Bears are not only found in warning and closure areas! If you are recreating anywhere in the Bow valley be prepared and on the lookout for 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.
Travel in tight groups.
Be aware of your surroundings (look and listen for wildlife and their signs, i.e. tracks and scat). Avoid wearing earbuds, and slow down, especially near blind hills and corners.
Keep dogs on-leash and remember to pick up after your dogs as their feces can act as an attractant for bears.
Do not leave any garbage or food items that have a smell outside as they may attract wildlife.
Carry bear spray in an easily accessible location, know how to use it and be prepared to use it! Close encounters with bears can happen in seconds so you need to be ready. Bear spray has also been shown to be effective at deterring other wildlife such as cougars, wolves, coyotes and elk, and it should be carried along well-traveled trails in and around town.
Hunting season has started. 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.
CURRENT WARNINGS AND CLOSURES
Bear Closure - Ptarmigan Cirque Trail and surrounding area due to a grizzly bear with cubs frequenting the area
Bear Closure - Rockwall Trail and the meadow located southeast of the Peter Lougheed Discovery Centre and extending 100 meters into timber around the meadow due to multiple bears in the area.
Bear Warning - Commonwealth Creek trail, Commonwealth Lake trail, Birdwood Lakes, Smutwood Peak and surrounding area due to a grizzly bear frequenting the area.
Bear Warning - Bow River Campground due to a black bear in the area.
Bear Closure - Bill Milne Trail from Mount Kidd Residence Road to Highway 40 due to a bear feeding in the area.
Bear Warning - Spray Lakes West Campground & Old Goat Glacier Trail due to multiple black bears feeding in the area, including a sow with two young of the year cubs.
Bear Warning - Mt. Kidd RV Park Campground including campsites, trails and the permanent house trailer park due to a black bear frequenting the area.
Bear Closure - The area south of Mount Kidd RV Park F-Loop bordered by the Kananaskis River on the west and Hwy 40 on the east, plus the powerline in this region due to multiple bears feeding on berries in the area.
Bear Warning - Troll Falls, Hay Meadows, and Stoney Trail due to multiple bears frequenting the area.
Fox Warning - Sundance Lodges, campground and area due to a food conditioned red fox in the area. The fox has been approaching campers attempting to gain access to human food left in firepits, on picnic tables and in cooking areas.
Bear Warning - Kananaskis Village hotels and staff housing areas including the Village Rim trail, baseball diamond, and nearby circulation trails due to multiple black bears with cubs frequenting the area.
*Bears are not only found in closure or warning areas. You should always remain alert while walking, hiking, running and biking, and remember that bears can be encountered anytime, anywhere!
Here is a list of some Annual Closures in Kananaskis Country.
A complete list of all warnings and closures is available here for anyone visiting the Bow Valley, Kananaskis Country and Alberta Parks.
A complete list of all warnings and closures is available here for Banff National Park.
For more information on areas in the Bow Valley frequented by bears at this time of year visit our human-bear conflict summary map.
The information above 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.
AND NOW SOME PAWS-ITIVE NEWS
We have had numerous people borrow our extendable fruit picking equipment and pruning shears to help remove the crabapples and other fruits and berries from their trees! It is very paws-itive to see people being proactive and removing these attractants themselves.
If you are renting or live in a condo complex, please contact your landlord or condo board/association and notify them if there are trees with fruits and berries on the property so they can arrange to either remove the trees or ensure the fruit is removed.
Please drop by the Biosphere Institute in Canmore to borrow our fruit picking equipment! We recommend calling ahead of time to reserve as equipment is limited.
The fruit can be used to make delicious jams, jellies and baked goods and liqueurs!
If you do not want to use the fruit, there are many people in the Bow Valley that would be happy to take them off your hands to make some delicious goodies. Most communities have Facebook groups that you can join and write posts in to let people know that you have crabapples and other fruit available. Some local examples are Bow Valley Community Connection and Bow Valley Garden Group.
Extra or unused fruit can be dropped off in the new bear-proof residential food waste bins in Canmore.
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