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 (Nov.3-9, 2023)
(Banff National Park East Gate to Bow Valley Provincial Park)
There have been no recent bear sightings reported in the Bow Valley and GPS data is showing that collared grizzly bears in Kananaskis Country have either gone into their dens or are staying very close to their den site. That being said, there are likely non-collared bears still out and about searching for last minute calories. Remote camera and collar data have shown that some males like to stay out on the landscape into mid-December, and even into January (for instance “the Boss” is often seen along the Great Divide ski trail by Lake Louise until at least the New Year). With this in mind, it is important that we don’t become complacent when heading out on the trails and that we are mentally prepared for possible encounters with wildlife!
Archive photo of a grizzly bear out in the snow.
The elk rut is over but numerous elk continue to be seen all throughout town which means you have to be alert and you may have to choose an alternate route while out for a walk/run/ride. Give plenty of space to ALL ELK (at least 30 metres or 3 bus lengths) and do not try to sneak past them on the trail! Never approach elk for ANY reason and keep your pets on a leash.
Bow hunting season is open in the Bow Valley. Due to the nature of the activity, hunters need to be cautious as they are intentionally quiet on the landscape. If you are recreating, please remain alert of your surroundings, avoid dead animals and always carry bear spray. Everyone, including hunters, should remain aware of their surroundings and also be prepared with bear spray and know how to use it!
Elk frequently hang out on or along the busy trails in Canmore. Give them plenty of space and don’t try to sneak past them! Photo by Judy Cairns.
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
Even though the bears have or will enter their dens soon, there are still many species that do not hibernate (i.e. cougars, wolves, coyotes, deer and elk). Every time you head out on the trails you need to be vigilant and mentally prepared for possible encounters with wildlife! Here are some simple things you can do to stay safe on the trails:
Stay on designated trails so that we are more predictable for wildlife
Make lots of noise (yell, shout) to let wildlife know you are coming down the trail to avoid surprise encounters, and give them time to move off of the trail
Avoid recreating at dusk, dawn or at night which is when cougars and other wildlife are most active
Be aware of your surroundings by periodically checking behind you to make sure there are no animals following you and by not wearing earbuds/headphones, which will limit your ability to hear approaching wildlife
It is safer to hike, bike, run, or ski in a group. Not only are you more intimidating for wildlife, you will also make more noise
Think about carrying some sort of satellite communications device in case of an emergency
Surprise defensive encounters happen very quickly so it is very important that you know how to use bear spray and that you are able to pull it out and deploy it in under 3 seconds! This requires lots of practice and you need to carry bear spray YEAR-ROUND in an easily accessible location (not in your backpack)! Bear spray is also effective against wildlife which are active year-round such as cougars, wolves, coyotes and elk and should be carried along well-travelled trails in and around town.
KEEP DOGS ON-LEASH as it could save your life, your dog’s life and a bear’s life! Also remember to pick up after your dogs as their feces can act as an attractant for wildlife.
Off-leash dogs continue to be a big problem in the Bow Valley and we are constantly looking for new and creative ways to reach those folks. Here is a great sign from Whistler B.C. using a different approach that will hopefully get more people to keep their pets on a leash…
Another approach to getting people to keep their dogs on-leash. Signage from Whistler B.C.
WILDLIFE AMBASSADOR WORDS OF WISDOM
"BUSTING BEAR MYTHS" BY DEREK RYDER, WILDLIFE AMBASSADOR
Myth: By having my dog with me on a trail, I’m less likely to risk a bear attack.
Fact: Bears don’t like dogs. In truth, they don’t understand what a “dog” is. But they do understand canids, which is the family of animals dogs are in. Canids here are wolves, coyotes and foxes. Bears don’t like any of them. Wolves try to steal bear kills, and will predate young bears. Coyotes and foxes try to scavenge from bear kills. Bears don’t see canids as a good thing. They see wolves, dogs, and coyotes as threats.
If your dog lunges and barks at a bear, even on leash, that’s seen by the bear as aggression. Bears are big enough to believe – rightly so – that they’re the kings of the forest. If a canid is aggressive towards them, they’ll probably be aggressive back – which will be bad for your dog, and bad for you. Sure, it might scare the bear off, especially if there are a few of you and you look like a pack to a bear (bears don’t like packs of anything). If your dog turns and runs, that will trigger a pursuit reflex in a bear. Prey runs away. By running, your dog just identified itself as something worth chasing.
Dogs rarely make bear encounters better. Even on-leash, your dog is generally not going to be an asset in a bear encounter. It may actually turn an otherwise benign encounter into an attack situation. Plus, bear spray is a two-handed thing. How do you use two hands when one of them has a leash in it, attached to a dog?
Bears see wolves (pictured), dogs, and coyotes as threats. Photo credit: Yellowstone National Park Flickr.
WILDLIFE IN THE NEWS
Grizzly bear euthanized in Haines Junction.
‘Completely trashed’: Bear rips up Port Moody woman’s unlocked van.
B.C. man gets 30 days in jail and $11K fine for killing black bear and cub.
A black bear tears up a camper in western North Carolina.
Decade-high number of black bears killed by B.C. conservation officers in first 9 months of year, data shows.
Learning to live alongside Polar Bears in Whale Cove.
Prince George RCMP forced to shoot bear at Pine Centre Mall.
Climate change is affecting bears, and humans need to learn more to avoid conflicts.
Black bear in Florida steals food delivery off a front porch moments after it was dropped off.
Bear linked to multiple attacks in Japan found dead alongside its final victim.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT?
Please ensure that your yards are free of ALL attractants so that bears do not find anything to eat and subsequently get into trouble! As a reminder, please do not put out bird feeders yet as they could potentially attract bears into your yard. In Canmore, bird feeders are not allowed to be used during bear season between April 1 and November 30.
Living in the Bow Valley means wildproofing your property. Patios and crawl spaces under sheds or stairs are attractive hiding or denning places for cougars, foxes, bears, coyotes, and other animals. Proactive prevention is the best way to keep carnivores from taking up residence in your residence.
Blocking holes and covering access to hiding places will keep your pets and neighbours safe, and could prevent the need to relocate or kill habituated wild animals. Spring is the best time to wild-proof your property, with an extra check before winter.
Follow these tips to avoid attracting animal guests:
Board up open spaces under decks or patios or close them off with durable wire mesh.
Install motion-activated security lights if possible. They may help frighten away carnivores.
Keep cats indoors and bring dogs inside at night. If your dog is outside unsupervised in the day, make sure they’re in a secure, covered kennel.
If you see a cougar or other wildlife in the Banff town site, call Parks Canada at 403-762-1470. To report a cougar or other aggressive wildlife in Canmore, call Kananaskis Emergency Services at 403-591-7755.
Keep animals out by wildlife proofing your property! Image downloaded from the Nov.9, 2023 edition of the Rocky Mountain Outlook.
AND NOW SOME PAWS-ITIVE NEWS
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. So far this year, these amazing volunteers have dedicated over 1,200 hours of their time and spoken with over 15,000 residents and visitors!
Over the past few weekends, some Wildlife Ambassadors were out in Banff, Canmore and Troll Falls in K-Country chatting with residents and visitors about wildlife safety, carrying bear spray and the importance of removing/securing attractants such as fruit (both on trees and on the ground), pumpkins, pet food, bird feeders, garbage and greasy barbecues. Here are a few photos of the Wildlife Ambassadors in action…
UPCOMING EVENTS
Nov.14 - Newcomer Resource & Information Fair
As part of the Bow Valley Immigration Partnership’s Bow Valley Community Week (which runs from Nov.13-19), the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley will be at the Newcomer Resource & Information Fair on Tuesday, Nov.14 from 2:30-5:30 p.m. at the Fenlands Recreation Centre in Banff. Are you new to Canada or just to the Bow Valley? Come learn about all the free services and resources available to you, while enjoying a fun day meeting your new neighbours!
Nov.17 - Biosphere Institute's 2nd Annual Do-Si-Do Square Dance Fundraiser
Only a few tickets are left! Join us for our second annual Community Square Dance Fundraiser including a silent auction at the Cornerstone Theatre on Friday, November 17, 2023, at 7 pm! Last year was an absolute blast, and we look forward to another year of boot-stompin' fun with you all! All are welcome! Dance the night away to an incredible live band and so much laughing your belly will hurt the next day. All funds raised will go to supporting the Biosphere Institute's programs.
Nov.18 - Cubs, Coffee & Connections
Join WildSmart at the Family Connection Centre in Canmore from 9:00-11:45 a.m. on Saturday Nov.18 for a cup of coffee (or tea) and learn about how to coexist safely with wildlife while meeting other families in the community.There will be interactive stations such as a bear spray demonstration, songs, dances and crafts to learn how to live smart with wildlife and more.
This free drop-in program is for parents, caregivers and young children ages 0-6. Families may join and leave at any point. Coffee and tea will be provided for free.
Nov.19 - Living Sustainably Speaker Series II: Coexisting with Wildlife
The Cochrane Environmental Action Committee (CEAC) is excited to present Living Sustainably Series II, a series of presentations for Cochrane area residents. Their next presentation is about Coexisting with Wildlife on Sunday, November 19 from 2:00 - 3:30 pm at the Frank Wills Memorial Hall, 405-1 St E, Cochrane, AB.
Join Kennedy Halvorson (she/her) MES, BSc Biochemistry, a Conservation Specialist with Alberta Wilderness Association to learn about our local biodiversity, including societal benefits, some common misconceptions, and how to be a good neighbour to local wildlife. Sessions are free to attend but Registration is required!
Nov.20 - Earth Talks: There’s a Bear on my Street! A conversation about urban wildlife
Join us for this month's Earth Talk at the Canmore Public Library for a presentation by Wildlife Ambassador Derek Ryder, titled "There's a Bear on my Street! A conversation about urban wildlife." This talk will take place on Monday November 20, 2023 in the Friends Program Room at the Canmore Public Library at 7:00pm. Registration is required to attend in-person, or you can join online LIVE via Zoom by clicking here.
Come on out and learn about:
Encountering bears and other wildlife in the wilderness vs. having them in the urban environment
Strategies that could help in preventing bear removal or relocation
What you should do if there’s wildlife (like a bear) in YOUR neighbourhood
We’ll also have a question period and discussion. Some things we look forward to discussing are:
How do you think we SHOULD be dealing with urban wildlife?
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