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The information below is 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.
BEAR ACTIVITY UPDATE (July 18-25, 2024)
(Banff National Park East Gate to Bow Valley Provincial Park)
There continues to be a lot of bear activity in the Bow Valley and Kananaskis Country, including popular hiking trails and places like the Canmore Nordic Centre. Berry season is here but the crop is not a bumper crop, and spotty patches are ripening up in and around residential areas throughout the Bow Valley. Be prepared and on the lookout for bears feeding on buffaloberries while you recreate, as many berry bushes are found along popular trails. Making lots of noise is the best way to alert bears of your presence and it gives them time to clear the area. Everyone visiting bear country needs to have good situational awareness and always be aware of their surroundings, expect bear encounters, and give bears the space they need (at least 100 m or 10 school bus lengths) to forage undisturbed in this crucial, short window of time.
Buffaloberries in Canmore on July 25, 2024.
Campers and day users need to be very diligent in securing wildlife attractants (garbage, food and other scented items), even when they are still at their campsite or picnic area. Never leave food unattended, try to not allow bears to get food rewards and be prepared to use your bear spray if a bear approaches you and your food at your picnic table. Here is a recent article about a black bear accessing human food at Lake Minnewanka in Banff. Garbage left at trail-heads and day use areas has also been a concern and please be reminded to take your waste to a bear proof bin, or if the garbage bin is full find another bin or pack your garbage out with you. We can’t prevent bears from walking through our picnic areas and campsites, but we can certainly do our best not to give them a food reward or reason to linger!
Mountain bikers need to be making lots of noise (yelling and shouting) on the trails, especially up at the Canmore Nordic Centre. Bears are feeding on berries very close to trails and bikers are coming up on them quickly with little warning to the bears. In addition to letting wildlife know they are coming down the trail (by making noise), bikers should slow down to avoid surprise encounters with wildlife, especially around blind corners, at the tops of hills, or in areas with thick vegetation and poor sight lines.
If you are going outdoors in the Bow Valley and K-Country it is very possible that you may come into contact with a bear. Bears can be encountered anywhere, anytime (not just in areas with an active warning or closure in place) so you should always be expecting to run into a bear whenever you head out on the trails. Mentally prepare for this and understand how you should react! This includes carrying your bear spray, knowing how to use it and using it if the situation warrants it.
Mother grizzly bear and cub in K-Country feeding on buffaloberries on July 17, 2023. Make lots of noise to alert them to your presence to help avoid those surprise encounters.
Even though elk calving season is over, this is no time to become complacent. Mother elk will still aggressively defend their calves if they feel threatened by people getting too close. Never approach elk for any reason, stay at least 30 metres (3 school bus lengths) away from all elk and DO NOT TRY TO SNEAK PAST THEM on a trail! Keep pets on a leash and it is a good idea to be carrying your bear spray whenever you leave the house to go out for a walk, run, or ride around Canmore.
VIEW CURRENT WARNINGS AND CLOSURES
Bear Warning: Lower Lake Campground, Lower Lake Day Use & Lower Lake Group Camp due to a grizzly bear and cubs in the area.
Bear Warning: Ribbon Creek Trail from the trailhead to Memorial Lakes Junction due to a bluff charge by a black bear with two cubs.
Bear Warning: Lake Minnewanka Loop (excluding Cascade Ponds and Johnson Lake) due to a black bear that is frequenting the area and has obtained unsecured human food.
Wildlife Warning: Bow Valley Provincial Park, Bow Valley Campground and Willow Rock Campground due to a Ball Python that was observed near the Bow Valley dump station at approximately 11:00 AM on July 21st, 2024. This snake is native to Sub-Saharan Africa and is a common pet. This snake presents a threat to local wildlife and small pets. Invasive species like this threaten Alberta’s ecosystems and biodiversity. Please report any sightings immediately to Kananaskis Dispatch at 403-591-7755. Read more in this article: Ball python spotted slithering around Bow Valley.
You can also submit your report using the Report-A-Poacher Online form or contact your local district Fish and Wildlife office.
SOME THINGS TO ‘BEAR’ IN MIND
We are in berry season and it is important to note that buffaloberries are often found in sunny areas along trails, roads and recreation areas, so trail users should always expect to encounter a bear while out on the trails or at day use areas. Bears will have their heads down focused on eating berries and not paying attention, so it is up to all of us to make lots of noise to alert them of our presence to help avoid those surprise encounters.
Bears and other wildlife continue to be seen on and near roads. Remember to obey speed limits and slow down when passing wildlife but don’t stop and always stay in your vehicle! Never get out of your vehicle to get closer to a bear that is roadside. It stresses out and disturbs the bear, and is potentially dangerous for you, the bear and other motorists.
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. Always have your bear spray readily accessible!
During berry season bear scat looks a lot like strawberry jam!
WILDLIFE AMBASSADOR WORDS OF WISDOM
Wildlife Ambassador Derek is back to talk more about Buffaloberries, the plant bears dream about all year long!
WEEKLY WILDLIFE AMBASSADOR WHEREABOUTS
In case you have not seen them yet, our amazing Volunteer Wildlife Ambassadors have been heading out onto trails and trailheads. You can find them talking to people about responsible trail use and staying safe while recreating in bear country. Last weekend they were at Parks Day at Boulton Bridge Day Use Area and Banff Central Park. Note: the locations they are stationed at may change at the last minute. July 27 - Grassi Lakes Trailhead
Keep an eye out for the Wildlife Ambassadors next time you are out on the trails in the Bow Valley and K-Country and be sure to say ‘hi’ and have a chat with them!
WILDLIFE IN THE NEWS
Canmore family waited hours for help as bear killed dog then slept in their backyard.
Black bear killed after biting woman in North Vancouver, B.C.
Man punches grizzly in face during bear attack in northern B.C.
Man kills grizzly bear in Montana after it attacks while he is picking berries.
Kaska woman credits hair clip for surviving grizzly bear attack in Yukon.
New wildlife crossings planned between Canmore and Exshaw on Highway 1A.
Wildlife experts, advocates criticize lack of transparency in Alberta's new grizzly bear policy.
Rough play led to Baffin the polar bear’s drowning death, Calgary Zoo officials say.
Photos: Apparent mama bear shows cubs how to climb a tree in Coquitlam, B.C.
Black bear killed in Whistler after accessing homes.
Counting Cougars - Thirty-five wild cougar sightings and still counting.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT?
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. For example, cherries are still a few weeks away but can be removed before they ripen. It is YOUR responsibility to make sure that bears do not have a reason to linger in your yard, resulting in bears being relocated or destroyed.
WildSmart has pruning shears and extendable pole saw pruners and fruit pickers that can be borrowed (free of charge) to assist Bow Valley residents in removing fruit and berry bushes from their property. Please send an email to resource@biosphereinstitute.org to make arrangements to borrow the fruit removal equipment.
Our extendable pole saw pruner in action removing mountain ash.
Apply now for the Town of Canmore’s Fruit Tree Removal Incentive to get cash back of up to $500/property for removing fruit trees from your yard. New this year - Condos or commercial properties with five or more trees for removal may be eligible for additional support (up to $1000/property) for 2024 only. This program is first-come first-served so apply now!
AND NOW SOME PAWS-ITIVE NEWS
Our amazing Volunteer Wildlife Ambassadors had a great time at Parks Day on July 20 at the Boulton Bridge Day Use Area in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park! It was great to see such an awesome turnout from campers and hikers down in Kananaskis Country. As always, the Wildlife Ambassadors did a great job at their hands-on, interactive booth, and enjoyed talking to visitors about responsible trail use, berry season, wildlife ecology, avoiding and handling encounters with wildlife and of course, to carry bear spray and know how to use it.
Thanks to the Alberta Parks Interpretive Team for hosting us and providing some very interesting natural history talks, art programs and very delicious cake!
We also had some Wildlife Ambassadors out in Banff near Central Park last Sunday reminding people about keeping their picnics small, not leaving any food/garbage unattended, and ensuring all garbage is put in bear-proof garbage bins. Thanks to the Wildlife Ambassadors for their efforts!
Our Wildlife Ambassador booth at Parks Day last Saturday!
Wildlife Ambassador Kim in action in Banff last Sunday!
CURRENT JOB OPPORTUNITIES
We would like to share some exciting news! Our current staff member, Heidi Widmer, is expecting her first baby in October. With that, we're excited for her to have time with the new family member and for the opportunity to welcome a new hire to our team. The Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley seeks to contract a full-time Environmental Educator & Program Coordinator to help us deliver on the Future Leaders program. The full-time maternity leave contract position will deliver, coordinate and manage funding for all Future Leaders programs. Future Leaders is one of three critically important programs of the Biosphere Institute. The Future Leaders program seeks to educate and improve the ecological literacy of children and youth in the Bow Valley.
For the full job description and application details visit: Future Leaders Maternity Leave Contract Position. Applications are due by 5pm MST August 20, 2024. To apply, please send an email including your resumé and cover letter with the subject title “Future Leaders, Maternity Leave Contract” to education@biosphereinstitute.org.
CURRENT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Come volunteer with us at this year’s Canmore Folk Fest! Our Green Team is looking for more volunteers to help with the Folk Fest’s waste diversion initiative. Last year we proudly aided in diverting 91.2% of the event’s waste out of landfills. Let’s keep raising that number!
All volunteers will receive a free full weekend pass to the Folk Fest! It’s a great opportunity to get involved with the community, help the planet, and listen to some great tunes. Sign up here and indicate that you would like to help with the "Environment Team.”
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 Dispatch at 403.591.7755