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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 (Sep.26-Oct.3, 2024)
(Banff National Park East Gate to Bow Valley Provincial Park)
This past week has actually been fairly quiet for bears in the Bow Valley and Kananaskis Country but that does not mean people should be getting complacent! Bears continue to be on a constant search for food for the next six weeks to fatten up for their winter hibernation, but that food should not be coming from town and peoples’ yards. With the upcoming weekend and nice weather forecast, the trails and day use areas will likely be very busy with visitors. It’s important that everyone remains vigilant and mentally prepared for possible encounters with bears and other wildlife, all of which are still active in the Bow Valley and Kananaskis Country!
A bear closure has been put in place at the Rockwall Trail and Peter Lougheed Discover Centre and Meadow Area due to multiple grizzly bears frequenting the area. This would be a very good place to see a grizzly bear from a safe distance if you are in the area.
With the probability of running into a bear in Canmore still high, as well as reports in Canmore and Banff of large rutting bull elk showing aggression towards people, residents and visitors should be carrying bear spray with them out on the trails, even if they are going for a leisurely walk around town.
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. Consider having some friendly conversations (not confrontations) with your neighbours and fellow residents about the importance of removing fruit to keep people and bears safe in the Bow Valley!
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 would be $1,000!
Reminder for 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.
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.
Black bear with collar on Highway 93 in Kootenay National Park. Photo taken on Sep.29, 2023.
Even though bears have dominated the news the past few weeks, we can’t forget about the other potentially dangerous wildlife that frequents the Bow Valley! Elk continue to show aggression towards people getting too close trying to take pictures or trying to sneak past them on the trails. 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!
Male elk are particularly protective of any female elk they are with, and there continue to be reports of large rutting bull elk showing aggression towards people getting too close. Give plenty of space to ALL ELK, never try to sneak past them, never get between a male elk and the female elk and keep pets on a leash!
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 as, due to the nature of their activity, they are intentionally being quiet on the landscape. They should always be bear aware and carry bear spray with them while out hunting!
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
For bears, fall is “last chance to eat a lot” season as they continue to roam about searching for every bit of remaining food, natural and otherwise. Days are getting shorter and nights are getting longer as the countdown to denning up continues. The combination of shorter days, longer nights and foraging bears also makes fall a prime time for people and bears to encounter each other out on the trails or on the roads. If your activities take you into the outdoors, click here for some fall tips for avoiding bear encounters!
Female grizzly bear with her cubs down near Elbow Pass Day Use Area in K-Country on Sep.22, 2024.
Got your heart set on seeing larches in the fall? There are a lot of them around! Click here to read what the Friends of Kananaskis Country recommends! They also have an extensive list of trails, none of which are at the Highwood Pass, where you can see Lyall’s Larches. All of these trails will be less busy than the Highwood Pass!
Here are three simple reminders for larch hikers:
Humans and bears use the same trails. Move out of the way if bears are coming towards you on a trail and give bears space at all times, at least 100 metres (10 school bus lengths).
Slow down when driving to/from your larch hike! Bears and other wildlife are often seen feeding and travelling on or near the road. Motorists need to slow down when passing wildlife roadside, obey speed limits and be extra alert (especially at dawn and dusk) as the days are getting shorter and the number of darkness hours are increasing.
Getting too close to bears, such as in a vehicle or trying to take a picture, unfairly disrupts their behaviour and feeding patterns. During this crucial time before hibernation, they need to eat as many calories as possible - their survival depends on it!
Some of our Wildlife Ambassadors were out last weekend down in K-Country. The Highwood Pass and Arethusa Cirque parking areas were ridiculously busy and they ended up going to Elbow Pass. It is always good to have a backup plan when hiking during larch season - read more in this related article.
Arethusa parking area at 9:30am on Sep.28, 2024! An example of how busy it gets during Larch season down in the Highwood Pass area in K-Country!
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
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 Digs.
It’s larch season, and that means throngs of people are going to head up to the high alpine. That’s exactly where grizzlies are 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. Accordingly, something to keep your eye out for on your larch explorations are Grizzly Bear digs.
Many of the plants bears eat grow in patches. If bears are digging for roots or bulbs, such as those of the Glacier Lily, you’re going to find a large area that looks like it’s been attacked by a rototiller. When I say “large”, it could be as much as 15 m by 15 m, so it’s really hard to miss. The first photo was taken in the Highwood Pass area. Note that, whatever was being dug up, it is above treeline and right near the start of scree. This kind of mess is very common in these locations. Click here to read Derek’s full article about Digs!
Click on this image of a dig 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. You can find them talking to people about responsible trail use and staying safe while recreating in bear country. Last weekend they were at Elbow Pass in PLPP and the Canmore Engine Bridge. Note: the locations they are stationed at may change at the last minute.
Oct.5 - Arethusa Cirque in PLPP and the Canmore Engine Bridge
Oct.6 - Elbow Lake and Edworthy Falls in PLPP
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
Dog survives cougar attack in Alberta, encounter caught on surveillance video.
Doorbell camera captures tense bear showdown at B.C. family's front door.
Parks Canada allowing Indigenous bison hunt in Banff National Park.
Fat Bear Week delayed after a large bear kills a rival bear.
Fat Bear Week begins. Here’s everything to know about the big, beefy event.
No action to be taken against the bear that bit the hiker in Glacier National Park last week.
Bear an unusual sighting on Texada Island in B.C.
Hunter escapes grizzly bear encounter near Cranbrook B.C. with non-life-threatening injuries.
Whiteshell, Manitoba residents say they can’t ‘bear’ trash invaders.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT?
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 it any favours. Once they try these food sources they can learn that towns provide easy meals, meaning they're more likely to stick around and come back. This 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.
We need your help to ensure the safety of both people and bears:
Remove all fruit from branches and dispose of it responsibly. Place fruit in the residential food waste 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.
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.
Archived photo of a grizzly bear feasting on crabapples in Quesnel, B.C. Courtesy of Julie Dorge (@juliedorgephotography).
AND NOW SOME PAWS-ITIVE NEWS
Fat Bear Week 2024 has begun and runs from October 2-8. Your vote decides who is the fattest of the fat. All votes are cast at fatbearweek.org and daily head-to-head matchups will be open for voting between 10am-7pm MT. Download your bracket to predict your own fat bear winner. Some of the largest brown bears on Earth make their home at Brooks River in Katmai National Park, Alaska. Brown bears get fat to survive and Fat Bear Week is an annual tournament celebrating their success in preparation for winter hibernation.
This is a single elimination tournament. For each match-up, vote for the bear you believe best exemplifies fatness. The bear with the most votes advances to the next round. Only one will be crowned champion of Fat Bear Week on October 8, 2024. Learn more about the history of Fat Bear Week.
Brooks Falls in Alaska's Katmai National Park is the best place in the world to watch brown bears feasting on salmon as they swim upstream to spawn. Watch the live webcam by clicking here.
UPCOMING EVENTS
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 her 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 19 - Park to Pints 5K & 10K Run
A local 5k and 10k road run race organized by Strides Canmore in support of the Canmore & Area Mountain Bike Association (CAMBA). It will be an evening start followed by food, live music, a beer garden and more. Click here for race info and to register now!
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 the Fenlands Recreation Centre Concourse 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 of $100 to the Last Temptation! Must be at the event to win.
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
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. Yeehaw, see you there!
Curious what the event is like? Check out this awesome video from last year by Greg Monforton!
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