BEAR ACTIVITY SUMMARY FOR THE BOW VALLEY
(Banff National Park East Gate to Bow Valley Provincial Park) For the period: July 17 to July 24, 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
Many of the trails, day use areas and picnic sites in the Bow Valley and Kananaskis Country continue to be very busy with people, resulting in numerous bear sightings and copious amounts of garbage and waste left behind by irresponsible visitors! As a result there have been numerous warnings and closures put in place to give wildlife the space they need to feed undisturbed.
Even though elk calving season is over, it is important not to get complacent. There continue to be some recent incidents of elk closing distance on people trying to walk and bike past them along very popular and well traveled trails in and around Canmore. Additionally, there have been reports of people getting too close to elk that are frantically trying to climb out of the river after swimming across which causes them unnecessary stress and can even cause them to drown if there is no safe place away from people to climb up the river bank.
The increased visitation is also resulting in significant amounts of waste being left behind in day use areas and along trails. People need to pick up any garbage that has been left behind and ensure it is properly secured to avoid wildlife gaining access to it! Being exposed to unnatural food sources such as garbage puts wildlife at risk and increases public safety concerns around human wildlife interactions. It has been said that “a fed bear is a dead bear”; wildlife can pay the price for our littering by getting relocated or destroyed, as is evidenced in this recent article about a food-conditioned black bear that was killed for public safety reasons in Waterton.
Berry season is here and there have already been sightings of bears feasting on delicious ripe buffaloberries! They take this feasting job very seriously, eating up to 200,000 berries per day and focusing on it for over 20 hours per day! As such, bears will have their heads down feeding on berries and they can be very defensive of their berry bushes, especially if surprised. We need to make extra noise and be vigilant (that means NOT wearing headphones/earbuds) when travelling through bear country.
Buffaloberries are often found in sunny areas along trails, roads and recreation areas. Large numbers of trail users coupled with a near-bumper berry crop this season means we can expect an increase in encounters between people and bears. You can help reduce this risk by staying out of closed areas, making lots of noise, travelling in groups, and keeping pets on a leash. It is also a good idea to “Know before you go” by finding out where the bear warnings are and planning accordingly; avoiding these areas can also reduce your risks of encounters. Trail users need to mentally prepare themselves to handle bear encounters and expect to run into a bear while out on the trails! Carry bear spray to use in case of accidental close encounters.
Shepherdia canadensis, more commonly known as Buffaloberry. Red berries are most common but they can also be orange or yellow.
Bear scat can be an indication of bear activity in the area. During berry season bear scat looks a lot like strawberry jam! Keep an eye out for it on the trails and do not linger in areas with fresh scat. If you do stumble upon some fresh scat out on the trails, remember to be extra vigilant, make extra noise to alert potential bears of your presence, and consider turning around if you are not prepared to handle a possible encounter with a bear.
A positive, proactive step that you can take is to remove unripe fruit (such as crabapple, mountain ash and chokecherry) from your trees NOW before you have a bear in your tree. Leaving fruit in your trees can attract bears into residential areas, putting bears and people at risk.
An example of some unripe cherries that are ready to be removed!
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
Click here for the complete list of all Alberta Parks warnings and closures in the Bow Valley and Kananaskis Country.
Click here for the complete list of all warnings and closures in Banff National Park.
Here is a list of some Annual Closures in Kananaskis Country.
Click here for current information from Alberta Parks about visiting their parks during COVID-19. Click here for current information from Parks Canada about visiting their parks during COVID-19.
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
They are ready! Keep an eye out for our amazing Volunteer Wildlife Ambassadors on trails, at trail-heads, parks, day use areas, parking lots and campgrounds throughout the Bow Valley and Kananaskis Country, eager to teach responsible recreation practices to diverse outdoor enthusiasts!
Due to COVID-19 they will not be able to have tables set up with artefacts such as pelts and skulls for you to touch and hold, but they are looking forward to having some great conversations with residents and visitors about various topics ranging from wildlife safety and ecology, attractant management, safe and responsible trail use and the importance of carrying bear spray and knowing how to use it!
Be sure to say “hi” and learn something new from them this summer but please keep your distance (at least 2 metres), be respectful and please thank them for their dedication and efforts in improving human-wildlife coexistence.
Some of our Wildlife Ambassadors out on the trail. Pictured clockwise from left to right: Maryn, Coral, Margie and Ginger!
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