Bear Report - September 26, 2024

Did you know that WildSmart is one of three programs 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!

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 (Sep.19-26, 2024)

(Banff National Park East Gate to Bow Valley Provincial Park)

Bears have been in the news again this week. Unfortunately, bears were seen feeding regularly in fruit trees in residential areas in Canmore. They also continue to be seen in search of food out on the landscape in Kananaskis Country. They will be actively seeking food for the next six weeks to fatten up for their winter hibernation - that food should not be coming from town and peoples’ yards!

Bears are so focused on food this time of year that they are more likely to take risks, like coming into town and backyards to feed in fruit trees. Letting a bear access these higher calorie items such as crabapples and mountain ash won't do the bear any favours. Once bears try these food sources they can learn that townsite provides easy meals, meaning they're more likely to stick around and come back. This repeated behaviour can become a public safety issue as bears can get protective of food sources, leading to conflicts between bears and humans, with bears normally paying the price by getting relocated or killed.

Last Sunday, a mother black bear and her cub were trapped and relocated from the Rundleview Area of Canmore after repeatedly feeding in over seven different Mountain Ash trees in the neighbourhood. That makes three black bears in one week that have been relocated from Canmore after feeding in fruit trees! Enforcement action has been taken and violation tickets continue to be served to those homeowners who are not removing the fruit from their trees and are attracting bears into town and getting them into trouble. If a bear is found feeding in your fruit tree, the first offence charge is $1,000!

Bow Valley residents need to be aware of and concerned that attractants such as fruit trees pose a safety risk to people and the survival of bears! Coexisting with wildlife in the Bow Valley means removing fruit BEFORE it is ripe, and the best long-term solution is to remove the fruit tree and replace it with a non-fruit-bearing alternative. You can also help keep bears alive by securing and removing other wildlife attractants around your home such as taking down birdfeeders, storing pet food inside, cleaning your bbq and ensuring garbage is secured.

Canmore Residents: Remove your fruit trees or their fruit, or you may face steep fines and be responsible for killing a bear! To find out more about the fines associated with allowing wildlife attractants such as fruit to accumulate on trees and on the ground, view and download the Community Standards Bylaw here.

 

Black bear feeding in a Mountain Ash tree in the Rundleview area in Canmore around September 15, 2024.

 

Cougars were in the news again as several reports of a juvenile cougar prompted a warning in the West End of Calgary's Fish Creek Provincial Park, affecting areas of Votier’s Flats, Bebo Grove, Shannon Terrace and Marshall Springs day use area. Experts share precautions to take after two cougar attacks on pets south of Calgary.

We are in the elk rutting season and people need to give elk lots of space! Male elk will act aggressive towards anything that comes too close, even trucks, as we pictured last week and which happened again last year in Jasper (be sure to read the comments below and watch the video near the very bottom of the comments section). The best way to keep them at ease is to stay at least 30m away - which is three school bus lengths - never try to sneak past them and never get between a male elk and the female elk.

Elk frequently hang out along trails and in wide open fields such as school yards and playing fields around town, which means you may have to choose an alternate route while out for a walk/run/ride. Remember: keep pets on a leash, carry bear spray in an easily accessible location, and if an elk charges, position a large object (e.g. car, large tree) between you and the elk or consider using your bear spray. Never approach elk up close as they are wild animals that can react unpredictably!

Bow hunting season is now open in the Bow Valley so please be aware of your surroundings and stay clear of dead animals. Hunters need to be cautious also. Due to the quiet and camouflage nature of hunting, hunters should always be aware and carry bear spray with them while out hunting!

 
 
 
 

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

Last Sunday, our Wildlife Ambassadors were out at Elbow Lake. The Ambassadors were thrilled to be able to observe a female grizzly bear with her three cubs from a safe distance! They were happy to report that trail users did a great job of respecting the bear family and giving them space on the trails. The trails were busy with Larch viewers and served as good reminder that bears - much like humans - often choose to walk on trails because it's easier. Bears move around a lot in search of food, and often people just happen to be in their way on the trail. The best thing to do is stay calm, talk to the bear in a calm voice and back away slowly, and if safe to do so, move off of the trail to let the bear(s) pass - but make sure you have your bear spray out and ready to use just in case. It can be tricky to try and back up slowly for long periods of time so it is much easier for hikers to simply move off the trail and let bears pass. Whether it’s along trails in the valley bottoms or up in the alpine, bears need space to feed undisturbed, at least 100 metres (10 school bus lengths).

 

Female grizzly bear with her cubs down near Elbow Lake in K-Country on Sep.22, 2024.

 

Are you prepared to encounter a bear on the trail? The following video is a great example of how to properly handle an encounter with a bear. It occurred close to Canmore on EEOR (East End Of Rundle) back in 2018.

Make your voice heard!

The Government of Alberta is seeking input to help inform a made-in-Alberta Nature Strategy that guides how we maintain, conserve and sustainably manage the province's nature for years to come.
Fill out this short, online survey by November 7, 2024, to ensure that the strategy reflects Albertans' perspectives, values and priorities for nature.

 
 

Have your say on Parks Canada’s Lake Minnewanka Area Plan!

Parks Canada is initiating development of the Lake Minnewanka Area Plan, a guiding document that will set long-term direction for managing the Lake Minnewanka Area. At this stage, they are focusing on gathering information, identifying priorities, and scoping the plan. Parks Canada would like to hear what is important to you about the area. Your input will help shape the plan.
Click here to complete the survey now! This survey is open now until October 25, 2024. All questions are optional, and your participation is anonymous and voluntary.

 
 

WILDLIFE AMBASSADOR WORDS OF WISDOM

Larch Viewing: This is the time of year to head up into the alpine looking for larches, but be aware that grizzly bears are up there at this time of year too! There are a couple of things that grizzlies chow down on up in the alpine before they go to bed, and almost all of them are dug up such as ground squirrels, roots and bulbs. So keep an eye out for grizzly bear digs on your larch explorations!

Wildlife Ambassador Karen is back to talk to you about grizzly bear claws and their digs.

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 the Exshaw HarvestFest Market, Ptarmigan Cirque and Elbow Lake. Note: the locations they are stationed at may change at the last minute.

Sep.28 - Arethusa Cirque in PLPP and Sep.29 - Canmore Engine Bridge

Keep an eye out for the Wildlife Ambassadors next time you are out on the trails in the Bow Valley and K-Country. If you see them on the trails, be sure to say ‘hi’ and have a chat with them!

WILDLIFE IN THE NEWS

FOOD FOR THOUGHT?

Keep Wildlife Alive: Remove Fruit from Your Yard!

As winter draws near, there have been several incidents of bears accessing fruit trees in our community. We need your help to ensure the safety of both people and wildlife.

  • Before fruit grows: Prune or remove fruit trees to prevent them from attracting wildlife.

  • If fruit has already grown: Remove all fruit from branches and dispose of it responsibly. Place fruit in the organics bins around town and dispose of branches separately at the Boulder Crescent Depot Scrub and Brush area located at 115 Boulder Crescent. Please note that they do not accept branches with fruit, as they attract wildlife.

  • Need Help? WildSmart has pruning shears, extendable pole saw pruners and fruit pickers that can be borrowed (free of charge) to assist Bow Valley residents in removing that hard to reach fruit. Please send an email to resource@biosphereinstitute.org to make arrangements to borrow the fruit removal equipment.

  • Apply for the Town of Canmore’s Fruit Tree Removal Incentive: Picking fruit every year is a lot of work so the recommended long-term solution is to remove your fruit tree! There is still plenty of money remaining in the budget this year for the Town of Canmore’s Fruit Tree Removal Incentive Program so we urge you to consider removing your fruit tree now while the funds are available! Get up to $500 per property for removing fruit trees. Condos or commercial properties with 5+ trees may be eligible for up to $1,000 for 2024 only. Click here for more information and details about how to participate.

 

Black bear feeding in a Mountain Ash tree in the Rundleview area in Canmore around September 15, 2024.

 

Fat Bear Week in Alaska is an annual celebration of the beefy, brown and bristly bears. The voting competition is getting underway as some of the chunkiest bears on the planet fatten up for their long winter slumber. Vote for Fat Bear Week beween October 2-8, 2024 (bracket revealed September 30) and the champion fat bear is crowned on October 8, 2024. All votes are cast at fatbearweek.org in this March-madness style bracket competition in which bears compete daily in head-to-head matchups for the title of 2024 Fat Bear Week Champion. The competition begins September 26 & 27, 2024 with Fat Bear Junior voting - so get your votes in now in this week’s Fat Bear Jr. contest!

 
 

AND NOW SOME PAWS-ITIVE NEWS

We recently delivered wildlife safety and bear spray training to the Grade 7-9 Outdoor Ed. classes at Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Academy in Canmore. Not only did they learn how to use bear spray, they also got to experience first-hand how difficult it can be for wildlife like bears and elk to navigate safely through our busy valley without getting into trouble. These students are now better prepared with the knowledge and awareness to stay safe outdoors. Do YOU feel prepared?

 

Students at Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Academy trying out some inert bear spray!

 

We would also like to welcome Jackie Kinney back to the Biosphere Institute team in her new role as our Future Leaders Program Coordinator while the fabulous Heidi is on maternity leave. Having called the Bow Valley home for two years, Jackie moved here following her graduation from the University of Waterloo with a Bachelor of Environmental Studies. Her academic journey reflects her dual interests in resource sustainability and community development, complemented by a specialization in Equity and Diversity. Jackie is also the co-founder of Nurture, an environmental education program aimed to connect youth to nature and community through gardening. She loves hiking and camping and will find any excuse to be in or on the water, no matter the temperature. With a strong belief in equitable access to nature, Jackie champions community engagement and youth involvement as pivotal elements for shaping a sustainable future.

 

Meet Jackie...again, who will be our Future Leaders Program Coordinator while the fabulous Heidi is on maternity leave.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

October 3 - Cascade Creek Habitat Improvement Project

 
 

October 7 - Earth Talks: Bow Valley Community Fireguard

Join us to hear from Caitlin Miller, Director of Emergency Management for the Town of Canmore, who will present about "Bow Valley Community Fireguard: Wildfire Resilience and Wildlife Habitat Enhancement." Caitlin will talk about the Bow Valley Community Fireguard project that kicked off in April 2024. Attendees will learn:

  • The history of wildfire in the Bow Valley and how the current landscape makes communities in the Bow Valley vulnerable.

  • What construction is taking place starting this fall and what is being planned for the future.

  • How the construction of a fireguard will benefit the communities in the Bow Valley and wildlife alike.

After their presentation, Caitlin will lead a discussion with attendees, asking questions like:

  • What is the difference between FireSmart activities and a Fireguard?

  • What are the co-benefits that can be realized for enhancing wildlife habitat?

  • Has anyone had a FireSmart Home Assessment?

  • Do you want to do more to increase your resilience to wildfire?

  • Would you be willing to be a community champion for FireSmart and engage with your neighbours to collectively work on FireSmart activities?

This FREE Earth Talks event will take place on Monday, October 7 from 7-8pm, in the Friends Program Room at the Canmore Public Library. Registration is required to attend in-person, or you can join online LIVE via Zoom by clicking here.

 
 

October 15 - Bike All Winter Program
Community Cruisers’ Bike All Winter Program is open for applications until October 15. Participants receive assistance to winterize their bike, including free or subsidized winter bicycle tires, lights and fenders, training on winter bike riding, as well as a ‘Bike All Winter Mentor’ in exchange for a commitment to cycle throughout the winter. Learn more and apply now by clicking here!

 
 

October 20 - Banff Share and Repair Fair
The Town of Banff and Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley invite you to the Banff Share and Repair Fair on Sunday, Oct.20, 2024 from 10am-2pm at Fenlands Recreation Centre in Banff.

SAVE YOUR SPOT TODAY! Free to attend and register. Save your spot by REGISTERING HERE. The first 50 people to register will be entered to win a prize! Must be at the event to win.
If you would like to host a booth or workshop at the event, fill out this form by Sept.20th.
If you would like to volunteer, please sign up here.

 
 

November 15 - Biosphere Institute’s 3rd Annual Community Square Dance Fundraiser!

The Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley invites you to join us for some boot stompin' fun at our third annual Square Dance Community Fundraiser! The most fun you can have with your boots on...

We will provide you with an incredible live band, light snacks and so much laughing your belly will hurt the next day! Dress to impress in your best Western wear! Prizes for "Best dressed" and "Most enthusiastic" dancer.

Friday, November 15, 2024 
Doors open: 6:30 PM at the Cornerstone Theatre in Canmore
Dance begins at 7:30 PM and runs until late.
General Admission: $45+processing fees 
Early Bird Tickets (limited quantity): $35+processing fees 

Silent auction, draw prizes and more! All profits go to supporting the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley. All are welcome! We welcome young and old cowboys, cowgirls, and cowpals! No dance experience or partner necessary. Please let us know if you have any accessibility concerns that we should know about. If affordability is a barrier to this event, please reach out to tanya@biosphereinstitute.org. Since we would love to make this an inclusive event for all, we have a limited number of lower priced tickets available. The past two years have sold out, so get your tickets soon. A limited number of discounted early bird tickets are available until midnight on Sep.27!

Curious what the event is like? Check out this awesome video from last year by Greg Monforton!
Yeehaw, see you there!

 
 

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