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: April 2 to April 9, 2021
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.
Welcome to the first weekly bear report of 2021!
SUMMARY
We hope that you are all staying safe and healthy during these difficult times! There have been several reports of bears and their tracks out on the landscape. It is that time of year when bears will start to emerge from their dens, and since we will all be sharing the valley bottoms for the next few months, there is an increased chance of encountering wildlife, and you need to be properly prepared!
Fresh grizzly bear tracks found near Canmore on Tuesday. Photo by Derek Ryder
Always remain vigilant and remember these tips for responsible trail use and to reduce the risk of close encounters with wildlife:
Make lots of noise to alert wildlife to your presence! (the human voice is the best tool)
Travel in a group (while maintaining social distance), keep children close by and avoid heading out at dusk, dawn or night when wildlife is most active.
GIVE WILDLIFE SPACE! Physical distancing is important for humans AND wildlife! Remember to stay a minimum of 2 metres from people, 30 metres (or 3 school bus lengths) from ungulates like deer, elk, moose and sheep and 100 metres (or 10 school bus lengths) from carnivores like bears, cougars, wolves and coyotes.
Never approach or feed any wildlife (including squirrels), and always pack out what you pack in. If you see wildlife on the roadside, slow down but keep moving and NEVER get out of your vehicle to take a picture!
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 humans AND wildlife.
Keep dogs on a leash, and consider leaving your dog at home. Practice being able to pull out your bear spray while holding your dog on a leash in case of an encounter. Remember to pick up after your dogs as their faeces can act as an attractant for bears.
Carry bear spray in an easily accessible location, know how to use it and be prepared to use it. Make sure it is not expired, and if you need to refresh your memory on the proper use of bear spray, we have an excellent video on our website. Bear spray should be carried while walking on well-travelled trails, including the trails in and around town; it is also effective against non-hibernating wildlife such as cougars, wolves, coyotes and elk.
Obey area and trail closures. Help give wildlife space by not entering closed areas!
This is an example of NOT giving wildlife the space they deserve!
Take down your bird feeders and clean up the ground underneath. The Town of Canmore Wildlife Attractant Bylaw only allows bird feeders to be hung from December 1 to March 31. Click here for details.
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.
AND NOW SOME PAWS-ITIVE NEWS
Instead of Bear Day (which was supposed to be tomorrow and had to be cancelled again due to COVID restrictions), we are hosting a Virtual Bear Week from April 10-17 to welcome bears back on the landscape for another year and to remind everyone that it is time once again to be bear aware!
We will be sharing a variety of bear-related resources daily to educate and prepare visitors to bear country for a safe and enjoyable outdoor adventure and show everyone how they should behave to help keep people and wildlife safe! These online resources, such as videos, articles, presentations and more, will be shared via the events page on our website, Facebook and Instagram.
As a charity, our work relies entirely on donations and sponsors, and Bear Day is an important fundraising event for us. Since this will be the 2nd year in a row we have had to cancel Bear Day due to COVID, please show your support by donating online. Your donation will help us provide education and outreach programs to ensure that everyone in the mountains is prepared to be safe around wildlife, and knows how to give wild animals the space they need to thrive. With the record number of visitors we saw last year and likely will see again this year, we need your support now more than ever!
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