BEAR ACTIVITY SUMMARY FOR THE BOW VALLEY
(Banff National Park East Gate to Bow Valley Provincial Park) For the period: June 12 to June 19, 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
Bears continue to be seen feeding on grass and dandelions in backyards as well as in the ditches along trails, roads and highways throughout the Bow Valley. Roadsides are where the dandelions are, which means that this is where the bears will be for the next while. This increases the risk of roadside collisions everywhere in bear country. Motorists need to obey speed limits and slow down when passing wildlife feeding roadside.
Elk calving season continues to be in the news as there were several more reports of aggressive elk charging and chasing unsuspecting people waking past them in the wrong place at the wrong time along sidewalks, pathways and trails in and around town. Predators such as cougars have also been seen in the valley bottom along the river looking for an easy meal - newborn calves. A mother elk will aggressively protect her calf by kicking and charging at you if she feels threatened. Stay at least 30 metres (3 school bus lengths) away from all elk and do not try to sneak past them on a trail! Stay on open trails instead of walking through dense vegetation, keep pets on a leash and carry bear spray. Bear spray has been recently used to successfully deter aggressive charging elk.
In a few weeks time, bears will transition from eating dandelions to buffaloberries, which are setting up strong in and around Canmore! We can expect a good berry crop this year so please be proactive and remove berry bushes from your yards NOW before you attract a bear into town in a few weeks when the berries start to ripen. It is YOUR responsibility to make sure that unnatural attractants such as garbage, compost, greasy barbecues, bird-feeders, pet food and fruit bearing trees and shrubs are removed so that bears do not have a reason to linger in your yard, resulting in bears being relocated or destroyed.
A recent picture of a buffaloberry patch in Canmore. Photo courtesy of Alberta Environment and Parks
Bears continue to frequently be seen feeding on dandelions along roads and highways. Help prevent bear jams and give them the space they need by slowing down but not stopping. This article talks about some of the new wildlife viewing restrictions that are in place in Jasper giving park wardens a useful tool to use when they run into people who are not giving wildlife the space they need. A “No stopping zone” has also been put in place by Parks Canada in Yoho National Park to give the rare white grizzly bear and other bears space!
The safety and well-being of bears is far more important than you getting that perfect picture. Stay in your vehicle and keep moving to avoid putting any unwanted stress on the bears. Here is another example of why you should slow down but not stop when passing bears roadside. Never feed wildlife or encourage wildlife to come closer to you or your vehicle as it is dangerous for the wildlife, yourself and you could get a hefty fine.
Some fresh bear scat. Another reason to keep your eyes on the road! Photo courtesy of Alberta Environment and Parks.
CURRENT WARNINGS AND CLOSURES
Bear Closure: Lower Lake Day Use Area and there is also a related bear warning for Lower Lake Campground due to grizzly bears feeding in the area.
Bear Closure: Burstall Pass Day Use and Surrounding Area (including Mud Lake) due to a grizzly bear feeding on a carcass at Mud Lake.
Bear Warning: Elbow Valley Trail between Ing's Mine and Sulphur Springs Trail due to a grizzly bear in the area.
Bear Warning: Jura Creek Trail (near Exshaw) due to a group of hikers that were bluff charged by a black bear.
Elk Warning: You may see warning signs like the one below posted in areas around Canmore where there have been regular incidents of aggressive female elk closing distance on people.
Click here for current information from Alberta Parks about visiting their parks during COVID-19. A complete list of all warnings and closures is available here for Alberta Parks in the Bow Valley and Kananaskis Country.
Click here for current information from Parks Canada about visiting their parks during COVID-19. 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.
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!
AND NOW SOME PAWS-ITIVE NEWS
We had a great time making this recent video with CBC Calgary about staying safe in bear country! Watch and learn some simple things you can do to reduce the risk of encounters with wildlife.
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