BEAR ACTIVITY SUMMARY FOR THE BOW VALLEY
(Banff National Park East Gate to Bow Valley Provincial Park) For the period: May 1 to May 8, 2020
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.
SUMMARY
Bear season is in full swing as both black and grizzly bears have been seen in the Bow Valley and Kananaskis Country. Mother bears have and will continue to emerge from their dens with their cubs. It is very important to give these new mothers and their young, and ALL wildlife, lots of space! Physical distancing is important for humans AND wildlife! Remember to stay a minimum of 2 metres from people, at least 30 metres (3 school bus lengths) away from all ungulates such as elk and deer and at least 100 metres (10 school bus lengths) away from carnivores such as bears, cougars, wolves and coyotes. Speaking of mothers this Sunday is Mother’s Day. Remember to give the mothers in your life some well-deserved love this weekend!
A jogger had a surprise encounter with a black bear on a trail in the Three Sisters Area this past week. There was no contact made and the jogger was able to veer out of the way of the oncoming bear. It appears that something may have spooked the bear causing it to run towards the jogger who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. This serves as a reminder that bears can be encountered anywhere, anytime and that you need to stay alert, be aware of your surroundings, carry bear spray in an easily accessible location and be prepared to use it! You can learn more about avoiding and handling encounters with wildlife in our video below.
Two elk have died within town limits over the past week and people need to be aware that they may bump into carcasses while out on the trails. Please report carcasses to KES immediately (403-591-7755) and give them a wide berth due to the potential presence of predators and scavengers nearby!
There have been countless recent reports of off-leash dogs throughout the Bow Valley. This article serves as a reminder that people need to be mindful about the consequences of their actions. Now more than ever we need to come together as a community and off-leash dogs don't just pose a risk to wildlife, they can also put our neighbours at risk too! Click on this link to see a map and more information about the five off-leash dog parks in Canmore.
Potential hazards associated with elk calving season with Gian-Duri Giger, Volunteer Wildlife Ambassador & Former Park Ranger
Here is a summary of some important things to remember about the potential hazards associated with elk calving season that came up during a recent discussion with Wildlife Ambassador (and former Park Ranger) Gian-Duri. Green grass in parks, school fields, golf courses and along trails in town attract deer and elk. Their presence can attract predators such as bears, cougars, wolves and coyotes into town who are looking for an easy meal. We are also getting into elk calving season (May-June) which means that we need to be very vigilant of mother elk and their calves who may be hiding in dense vegetation in areas such as Larch Island, along the river trails, and near parks and golf courses. The presence of female elk and their calves pose a significant risk for people as mother elk can become very defensive and aggressively protect their calves by kicking and charging at you if they feel threatened. Newborn calves are also easy prey for predators which increases the chance that people visiting these areas may encounter bears and cougars who are either feeding on or searching for calves. Carry bear spray, keep your pets on a leash and leave at least 30 metres (3 school bus lengths) of space between yourself and all elk! For more info about elk encounters click here.
Photo by Gian-Duri Giger, Volunteer Wildlife Ambassador
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!
CURRENT WARNINGS AND CLOSURES
Effective May 1, Alberta’s Provincial Parks are open to vehicle access, however facilities in provincial parks including toilets, playgrounds, and picnic shelters remain closed at this time. Users are reminded to pack out their garbage to avoid human-wildlife conflicts, to practice physical distancing and avoid gatherings. A complete list of all warnings and closures is available here for Alberta Parks in the Bow Valley and Kananaskis Country.
Parks Canada’s Parks are closed to vehicle access until further notice. A complete list of all warnings and closures is available here for Banff National Park.
Here is a list of some Annual Closures in Kananaskis Country.
For more information on areas in the Bow Valley frequented by bears at this time of year visit our human-bear conflict summary map.
AND NOW SOME PAWS-ITIVE NEWS
Since the bears are out and about and we are not able to provide in-person education at the moment, we made this short video about the best strategies for avoiding negative encounters with wildlife while traveling in bear country and what to do if you find yourself in such an encounter. Check it out now and share with your friends and 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 Emergency Services at 403.591.7755