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 (June 22-29, 2023)

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

Bears continue to be seen regularly throughout the Bow Valley along trails, roads, in and around town and in the valley bottoms where most of their available food is located. With the increase in visitation anticipated over the long weekend, people need to expect to run into a bear while out on the trails, even in areas that do not have a bear warning in place! This includes facility zones, campgrounds and residential areas. A bear warning was just posted for the Sarrail Ridge Route and Rawson Lake Area due to a close encounter between a grizzly bear and hikers, as well as at the Canmore Nordic Centre due to numerous black bears that have been observed in the area. Click on the following advisory page links for the latest information regarding areas that have a bear warning or closure in place:

Bow Valley and Kananaskis Country Advisories

Banff National Park Advisories

Remember to make lots of noise, travel in a group (ideally 4 or more), keep pets on a leash, carry bear spray and be prepared to use it in case of a close encounter. Knowing what to do when you encounter a bear is key! Even if you are going for a leisurely walk around the neighbourhood you should be carrying bear spray.

Most elk calves are already mobile and moving around with less defensive mothers, however there continue to be other cow elk showing aggression towards people who are getting too close to their calves! Be aware of your surroundings, even on popular and well visited trails around town and along the river. 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

Mother elk protecting their newborn calves have been charging at people on Tunnel Mountain in Banff, prompting Parks Canada to close some popular mountain bike trails. An area on the west slope of Tunnel Mountain is closed every spring to give elk a secure space to give birth away from human activity, but this expanded closure now includes the entire length of the Star Wars and Topp Notch mountain bike trails, and a portion of The Return of the Jedi trail. Give elk lots of space and never try to sneak past them!

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

Traffic volumes along the major roads are increasing, making it more difficult for wildlife to cross. With the green grass and dandelions still attracting bears and other wildlife roadside looking for food, we must all remember to obey speed limits and No Stopping Zones! To help give these bears the space they need to feed undisturbed, “No Stopping Zones” have been put in place along Highway 40 in K-Country.

The safety and well-being of wildlife is far more important than you getting that perfect picture. Be sure to slow down appropriately while passing wildlife feeding roadside but do not stop. Stay in your vehicle and keep moving to avoid putting any unwanted stress on the animals. Never feed wildlife or encourage wildlife to come closer to you or your vehicle. OBEY ALL NO STOPPING ZONES - they are there for a reason!

Particpants needed for research on trail-based recreation and wildlife!

Be a part of the solution! Whether you have been living in the Bow Valley for decades or are newer to the area, the University of Alberta is seeking your insights and reflections that will help inform ongoing research about trail-based recreation and wildlife in the Canmore area.

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

Wildlife Ambassador Karen is back to remind people to respect all wildlife and leave the flowers for others to enjoy. Not only is picking wildflowers illegal in Alberta parks, but picking flowers actually kills some plants.

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 1 - Canada Day! Wildlife Ambassadors will be at the WildSmart booth in Centennial Park in Canmore from 8:30-11:30am. Come on by the booth and say hi and have a chat with them before you go watch the parade that starts at noon. You can find out more about what is happening in Canmore on Canada Day 2023 by clicking here.

WILDLIFE IN THE NEWS

Elk encounters force closure of mountain bike trails on Tunnel Mountain in Banff.
RM Outlook editorial: ‘Protecting bears takes people and organizations working together.’
An injured black bear has been collared and will be monitored in Banff National Park.
Whitehorse couple wakes to find pistachio ice cream-loving bear on their couch.
A black bear was shot with a crossbow in a regional park in Coquitlam, B.C.
A B.C. judge has found a Tofino man guilty of illegally killing a black bear and her cub, despite arguing he only shot one bear in self-defence.
A Wildlife group names the 'deadliest communities' for black bears in B.C. in 2022.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT?

Buffaloberries will start to ripen in the weeks to come. Please be proactive and remove berry bushes and fruit trees from your yard NOW before you attract a bear into town. Your tree blossoms will blossom into bear problems later! 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.

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.

If a garbage bin is full, take your garbage to another bin! DO NOT leave it on the ground where it is accessible for wildlife! A fed bear is a dead bear and one lazy act could cost a bear its life! If you notice any garbage left outside of bear proof bins, or garbage bins that are full around town, please report this to the Town of Canmore at 403-678-1580.

AND NOW SOME PAWS-ITIVE NEWS

Huge congratulations to the Bow Valley Green Energy Cooperative, Baymag, and KCP Energy, who recently celebrated the financing, installation and electrification of the largest solar array in the MD of Bighorn at the Baymag plant in Exshaw.

The team anticipates this 291 kW installation will generate up to 300,000 KWH of renewable electricity per year and eliminate 240 Tonnes of CO2e (Greenhouse Gas Emissions) from Alberta's electricity grid annually. For context, this is equivalent to the average electricity consumption of 50-60 homes annually.

Biosphere Institute staff and Board members, alongside the new Banff Kananaskis MLA, Sarah Elmeligi and many other supporters, joined Baymag to celebrate this momentous occasion on Thursday, June 22, 2023. Click here to view some photos in the RM Outlook from this event!

Click here to learn more about the relationship between the Biosphere Institute and Bow Valley Green Energy Cooperative.

If you have been inspired by the work of the Bow Valley Green Energy Cooperative, find out more by clicking here!

CURRENT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Are you passionate about waste reduction, music and community? Sign-up for the Canmore Folk Music Festival's Green Team. Last year, we diverted 1260 kg of material (86%) from the landfill! Join a team of volunteers as we work towards a zero-waste event.

Bonus perks! If you volunteer for 10 hours, you will receive a weekend pass for the festival, a volunteer T-shirt, access to backstage snacks and beverages and a private wee-hour party following the main stage concerts on Sunday and Monday night! Sign up here and indicate that you would like to help with the "Environment Team".

UPCOMING EVENTS

4 Seasons of Indigenous Learning - Early bird registration now open until June 30!

As part of our commitment to continual learning towards Truth and Reconciliation, the staff of the Biosphere Institute are completing the 4 Seasons of Indigenous Learning beginning in the fall of 2023. You can too! Early bird registration is now open until June 30 for the upcoming 4 Seasons of Indigenous Learning!

The Outdoor Learning Store is offering this online learning opportunity in partnership with over 40 non-profit organizations. The goal of this initiative is to encourage and empower people to deepen their understanding of Indigenous knowledge and perspectives while strengthening connections with the local land. They have confirmed an incredible line-up of Indigenous presenters and self-paced learning content as part of this initiative running from October, 2023 - June, 2024. This learning opportunity is open to EVERYONE.

Registration includes:

10 Learning Modules (~30 mins/month)
10 Opportunities to Gather Virtually with Indigenous Presenters (~1 hour/month)
$25 towards excellent Indigenous Learning Resources
A Certificate of Completion issued by the First Nations University of Canada
Access to a Learning Community to learn, share and connect with

LEARN MORE AND REGISTER

July 5 - Living with Nature: Bow Valley History from Indigenous Perspectives

Join us on Wednesday, July 5, at artsPlace for a workshop in collaboration between Daryl Kootenay, Travis Rider, WildSmart, and The Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies. This interactive workshop will address living with nature in each season, as well as the history of the Bow Valley from an Indigenous perspective.

The goals are to:

grow existing relationships and foster new relationships with the Indigenous peoples, settlers and tourists to learn more about local Indigenous histories to the Bow Valley;
provide information about Indigenous and WildSmart perspectives when interacting with nature and animals;
lead to an increased understanding of why certain actions promote coexistence and how the power of change rests in individual actions.

This will be one of the first times this presentation will be shared! Join us for our practice run.

Registration is free, but space is very limited! – Please reserve your spot. Click here for event info!

REGISTER HERE

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

Bear Report - June 29, 2023