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!
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 UPDATE (July 20-27, 2023)
(Banff National Park East Gate to Bow Valley Provincial Park)
Berry season continues to be busy for bear activity as many bears have been seen throughout the Bow Valley and Kananaskis Country along roads, trails, day use areas and near campgrounds. This is very evident from the many bear warnings that are active in the region. Many of these trails, day-use areas and picnic sites continue to be very busy with people, resulting in numerous bear sightings and large amounts of garbage and waste left behind.
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. 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!
Last weekend there was a bear closure on the Lady Macdonald Trail due to a trail runner who had a surprise encounter with a black bear that resulted in human contact and minor injuries. The encounter happened so quickly that the runner did not even have time to pull out their bear spray! The closure has been lifted but a bear warning is still in place for the trails in the vicinity of the Horseshoe Loop and Montane Trail, including the Cougar Creek Trail, Grotto Mountain Trail, G8 trail, Meander trail and Johnny’s Trail.
All trail users are reminded to make lots of noise (yelling and shouting) on the trails to let wildlife know they are coming down the trail. Bears are feeding on berries very close to trails and fast-moving bikers and runners are reminded to slow down to avoid these kinds of 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 probable 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.
Finally, with all the focus on bears during berry season, we can’t forget about the other wildlife that call this area home. Recent cougar sightings and a nearby deer carcass have prompted a cougar warning for YMCA Camp Chief Hector. Here are some tips on handling cougar encounters.
A grizzly bear enjoying berry season down in K-Country.
Bear Warning: Tunnel Mountain Campgrounds and perimeter due to a black bear displaying bold behaviour and frequenting the area.
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.
Earlier on we mentioned that fast-moving bikers and runners are reminded to make lots of noise and 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. Proper trail etiquette is important and our friends at the Canmore & Area Mountain Bike Association (CAMBA) have developed a great blog article about Trail Etiquette. Following a few simple guidelines ensures that our trails remain fun and accessible for all users!
If you have not already done so, please complete this 15-minute online survey or scan the QR code below. Thank you for doing your part to help improve human-wildlife coexistence!
WILDLIFE AMBASSADOR WORDS OF WISDOM
Kananaskis Country is home to a lot of animals, including bears. Recreating safely in bear country means more than just knowing what to do in a bear encounter. It’s also understanding signs that bears are around, so that maybe those encounters can be prevented.
Bears are big enough that they almost always leave evidence that they’ve been present – if you know what to look for. Keeping your eyes peeled for this evidence can help you be aware if bears are present, and will decrease the risk that you’ll accidentally run into a bear. Every month we’re going to learn about some of the signs bears leave in the forest, and in this edition of Watching for Bear Signs by Derek Ryder, Volunteer Wildlife Ambassador & IGA Interpretive Guide, it is Tracks.
One of the most obvious signs that bears are around is the footprints they leave. Tracks are only left on soft or wet ground. If you remember the last couple of days of the weather, it can help you understand when Ms. Bear might have passed. If you know it hasn’t rained or been wet where you are for several days, then that track in what is now dried up mud is now old. Rain and water wash away tracks, so if the ground is still wet or it’s raining, and you find an obvious track, it’s very fresh. In the fall, knowing when it snowed last can be a big giveaway as to when tracks were made. Tracks in snow exposed to sun will melt out over several days, going from quite distinct to less well defined. Tracks melting out will also get bigger. Click here to read Derek’s full article about Tracks!
Click on this image of bear tracks to read the full article!
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 to talk to people about responsible trail use and staying safe while recreating in bear country. Note: the locations they go to may change at the last minute. Here is where they will be next…
Saturday July 29
Grassi Lakes
Sunday July 30
Heart Creek
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
Surprise encounter with black bear leaves trail runner with minor injuries near Canmore.
Sightings and a nearby deer carcass prompts cougar warning for YMCA Camp Chief Hector.
A mother and daughter come face to face with black bear in Tunnel Mountain Village in Banff last weekend.
Traps removed after no sign of grizzly bear that killed woman near Yellowstone National Park.
Vancouver Island campground closed after 'food-conditioned' bear ripped through tents.
West Shore RCMP issue warning after family dog attacked by cougar near Victoria, B.C.
'I went down like a sack of potatoes': Irish paddler recounts bear encounter in Yukon backcountry.
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks reminds everyone: A fed bear is a dead bear.
71-Year-Old Man Survives surprise encounter with a mother black bear in North Carolina.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT?
A positive proactive step that you can take is to remove fruit (such as crabapple, mountain ash, dogwood 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, Dogwood and cherries are ripening around town and should 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.
In an effort to reduce conflict between bears and people in Canmore, the Town of Canmore is running their voluntary fruit tree removal incentive program again. Homeowners are invited to express their interest in participating in the program which will cover 100% of the pre-tax cost of removal of the fruit tree(s) or bush(es) by an arborist or tree removal service up to $500/property. The program is first-come first-served while funds are available. Click here for more details.
AND NOW SOME PAWS-ITIVE NEWS
Is your refundable recycling piling up? Want an easy way to give back to WildSmart?
Did you know we are partnered with SkipTheDepot? It's so convenient to have your refundable recyclables picked up at your door, with proceeds going to Biosphere Institute. Collections can now be scheduled in Canmore and many other towns and cities. Recycling is now as easy as 1,2,3:
1. Download the app or register online, and book a pickup using this link:
https://app.skipthedepot.com/biosphere
2. Place your bags outside
3. Your refund gets donated directly to the Biosphere Institute!
SkipTheDepot is a great way to donate directly to the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley and WildSmart. Thanks for your support!
We also wanted to take a minute to congratulate former Biosphere Institute staff member Adam Mertens on his incredible recent accomplishment of conquering the “Bow Tie”! Adam completed the 115km challenge, which had a 9,500m elevation gain, in a little over 30 hours! You can read more about his amazing acheivement in this article.
Screenshot taken from July 21 article from RM Outlook written by Jordan Small.
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