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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.
BEAR ACTIVITY SUMMARY (May 19-26, 2022)
(Banff National Park East Gate to Bow Valley Provincial Park)
Grizzly and black bears continue to be in the news and seen along trails, roads and in residential neighbourhoods on both sides of the valley. Some family groups of bears have also been spotted regularly in the Bow Valley and K-Country so be extra vigilant and make sure to give these mothers and their cubs lots of space as they are particularly protective of their young!
Black bears in town are getting into birdseed! Please help try to keep bears and other wildlife out of trouble by taking your bird feeders down for the season and cleaning 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.
Black bear seen in a backyard near Canmore on May 25, 2022.
Elk calving season is underway and there have been reports of mother elk charging at people that are getting too close to their calves along the river trails close to town. The best way to keep them at ease is to never try to sneak past them and stay at least 30m away - which is three school bus lengths.
A reminder to please report any sightings of a bear, cougar, wolf or any aggressive wildlife in the Bow Valley or K-Country to Kananaskis Emergency Services (KES) at 403-591-7755. They prefer to get the reports first hand from the people who actually see the wildlife.
VIEW CURRENT WARNINGS AND CLOSURES
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
Bears and other animals like elk, deer and sheep continue to be found feeding on green grass and dandelions along roads, highways and trails. Roadside vegetation is some of the first to green up at this time of the year and fulfills important habitat needs for these animals. This results in a higher risk for vehicle collisions with wildlife. Remember to obey speed limits and slow down when passing wildlife but don’t stop and always stay in your vehicle!
Black bear with cubs along Three Sisters Parkway in Canmore. Photo from May 19, 2022
Mating season is here which brings larger male bears down into the valley bottoms where they have more potential to run into people. These bears may have other things on their mind and so may not be particularly attentive to their surroundings! As such, people need to be extra aware of their own surroundings to avoid surprise encounters.
Kananaskis Conservation Pass: A reminder that all vehicles stopping in Kananaskis Country and provincial sites in the Bow Valley Corridor will need to purchase a Kananaskis Conservation Pass.
Elk Calving Season (May-June): People need to be extra vigilant of mother elk that will be hiding their calves in dense vegetation near parks, fields and trails. Mother elk can become very defensive and will aggressively protect their calves by kicking and charging at you if they feel threatened. The presence of newborn calves can also attract predators such as bears, cougars, wolves and coyotes into town who are looking for an easy meal. This increases the chance that people visiting these areas may encounter predators who are either feeding on or searching for calves. Carry bear spray, keep your pets on a leash and leave at least 30 meters of space between yourself and all elk.
Elk calving season warning signs in Canmore.
Photos taken on May 26, 2022.
WILDLIFE IN THE NEWS
A bear cub was killed on the Trans-Canada Highway near Highway 40 this week.
A resident of B.C.’s Lower Mainland could face charges for allegedly feeding bears and coyotes in West Vancouver.
Female grizzly bear was shot and killed near Fernie in a suspected poaching incident.
We often hear about the bigger wildlife in the valley, but this article talks about how this time of year and places like the dog pond near Quarry Lake are critical for the reproductive success of amphibians.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT?
What are the Bears eating today? by Derek Ryder, Volunteer Wildlife Ambassador & IGA Interpretive Guide
By now most bears have emerged from their dens and through the month of May, they’ll leave the higher alpine environments where they den, and move down to the snow free valley bottoms, so bear sightings and encounters will increase through the month. Along the way down from the alpine, if they can find a carcass of something killed over the winter by an avalanche, they’ll be very happy. However, there are no guarantees for that to happen, so most bears will rely on their veggie diets. One plant they will go after that does have berries at this time of year is kinnikinnik. Click on the image below to read Derek’s full article.
Click on this image of the Kinnikinnik flowers to read the full article!
WILDLIFE AMBASSADOR WORDS OF WISDOM
This week we have more gardening tips from our ambassador, Sandy! What should you do with all the animal 💩 in your garden from the winter? Be sure to dispose of it safely, because it’s not the same as commercial manure/compost.
Some more gardening tips from Wildlife Ambassador Sandy!
AND NOW SOME PAWS-ITIVE NEWS
Here is a challenge for you all you bear experts out there!
Can you find a bear hidden in this snow-covered forest? Scroll down to the end of this bear report for the answer…
EVENTS
Canmore’s first Electric Vehicle Expo will take place at Elevation Place this Saturday, May 28, in partnership with Bow Valley Climate Action Society! The event is open to the public from 10am - 4pm. There is no registration required and the event is free.
Come by to see our exhibitors including local businesses, community organizations, and electric vehicle owners and enthusiasts. There will be cars, e-bikes, and electric motorcycles to see, and prizes to win, so you don’t want to miss out!
Here is the answer… were you able to find the bear?
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