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: October 25 to November 1, 2019
SUMMARY
It was a quiet week for bears in the Bow Valley and the cold weather will likely speed up the process of bears heading into their dens. Grizzly bears continue to be seen moving around K-Country searching for food but there has been a decrease in black bear activity. This is likely due to the fact that black bears tend to head into their dens earlier than grizzly bears. Bears are opportunistic feeders and will eat anything that is available to them, so please make sure your yard is free of all potential attractants that bears and other wildlife might try to eat! These attractants include fruit (both on trees and on the ground), pumpkins, pet food, bird feeders, garbage and greasy barbecues.
Photo courtesy of Alberta Environment and Parks
Elk continue to be seen along trails around town, in open fields, school yards and playing fields which means you may have to choose an alternate route while out for a walk/run/ride. A reminder that it is elk rutting season and that male elk are particularly protective of nearby female elk. They may become aggressive towards anything that comes too close. Give plenty of space to elk (at least 30 metres or 3 school bus lengths), 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.
It is the day after Halloween and there are still many pumpkins sitting on doorsteps and smashed up in people’s yards. Please dispose of your pumpkins properly to help keep wildlife outside of residential areas! In Canmore, pumpkins can be taken to the bear proof community food waste bins. Remember to remove candles and other non-compostable decorations as the bins are for PUMPKINS ONLY!
Properly dispose of your pumpkins to avoid attracting unwanted visitors to your doorstep!
The bear warning for the area surrounding Cougar Creek, from BURNCO pit area to Harvie Heights is still in place due to a hiker with an off leash dog that had an encounter with a sow and cubs; the hiker was nipped by the bear and bear spray was deployed. Click here for more details and affected trails in the area.
To reduce the risk of encounters with wildlife:
Make lots of noise in order to alert them to your presence.
Travel in tight groups, keep children close by and avoid hiking at dusk, dawn or at night.
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 bears.
Carry bear spray YEAR-ROUND in an easily accessible location, know how to use it and be prepared to use it. It could save your life as well as your pet’s life! 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. Close encounters with bears can happen in seconds so you need to be ready.
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.
CURRENT WARNINGS AND CLOSURES
Bear Warning - The area surrounding Cougar Creek, from BURNCO pit area to Harvie Heights due to a hiker with an off leash dog that had an encounter with a sow and cubs; the hiker was nipped by the bear and bear spray was deployed.
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.
*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
This past Friday was our Volunteer Wildlife Ambassador end of season party! THANK YOU to our amazing and dedicated volunteers for making the trails safer for people and wildlife this season! Thanks go out to Joe from Alberta Environment and Parks for enthralling us with his amazing performance in Mask of Fuego, and finally a big Thank You to Panago Pizza for feeding our hard working Wildlife Ambassadors at our end of season party, and for acknowledging the importance of our volunteers giving back to the community!!! #randomactsofpizza #panago
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