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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 SUMMARY (April 15-22, 2022)
(Banff National Park East Gate to Bow Valley Provincial Park)
Bear activity continues to slowly increase as reports of bears moving around on the landscape down in Kananaskis Country continue to roll in. You can expect sightings to likely increase over the next few weeks as the weather (hopefully) gets warmer and more bears emerge from their dens.
A wolf was seen this morning near the Prairie View Trail down in K-Country. Even though we hear a lot about bears at this time of year, this serves as a reminder that many other species can be encountered anywhere, anytime and we always need to be prepared and vigilant out on the trails.
At this time of the year, bears are emerging from their dens hungry, and are often found in the valley bottoms looking for food. This can result in an increased chance of encounters with humans as we too spend most of our time in the valley bottoms! To add to this, people have been flooding to the mountains to partake in numerous recreation activities such as hiking and backcountry skiing at varying elevation levels which increases the chance of encountering bears even further as people are spread out all over the place. As such, all recreationists should always be expecting to encounter bears and mentally plan for this, which includes carrying bear spray and being prepared to use it. That includes people who are ski touring!
VIEW CURRENT WARNINGS AND CLOSURES
Please be advised of the ANNUAL CLOSURE: Spray River Valley. This is to protect wildlife activity in the area. Click on the map below for details.
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
Since we are all sharing the valley bottoms at this time of year, there is an increased chance of encountering wildlife, and you need to be properly prepared! Always remain vigilant and remember these tips for responsible trail use and to reduce the risk of close encounters with wildlife:
Make lots of noise to alert wildlife to your presence. The human voice is the best tool!
Travel in a group, keep children close by and avoid heading out at dusk, dawn or night when wildlife is most active.
GIVE WILDLIFE SPACE! Remember to stay a minimum of 30 metres (or 3 school bus lengths) from ungulates like deer, elk, moose and sheep and 100 metres (or 10 school bus lengths) from carnivores like bears, cougars, wolves and coyotes.
Be aware of your surroundings (look and listen for wildlife and their signs, including tracks and scat). That includes not wearing earbuds/headphones, which will limit your ability to hear approaching humans AND wildlife.
KEEP DOGS ON A LEASH unless you are in a designated off-leash dog area. Practice being able to pull out your bear spray while holding your dog on a leash in case of an encounter, or consider leaving your dog at home. Remember to pick up after your dogs as their feces can act as an attractant for bears.
Carry bear spray in an easily accessible location, know how to use it and be prepared to use it. Make sure it is not expired, and if you need to refresh your memory on the proper use of bear spray, we have an excellent video on our website. Bear spray should be carried while walking on well-travelled trails, including the trails in and around town; it is also effective against non-hibernating wildlife such as cougars, wolves, coyotes and elk.
Give wildlife space by NOT entering closed areas!
WILDLIFE AMBASSADOR WORDS OF WISDOm
Some great tips from Wildlife Ambassador Karen!
WILDLIFE IN THE NEWS
Althought this article comes from Whistler, B.C., it is very relevant to the Bow Valley and has some great reminders about securing attractants to help keep bears out of town and out of trouble.
Check out this well-known grizzly bear in Wyoming with four cubs! Grizzly 399 is 26 years old! Here is another article about the same family of bears.
From Newfoundland, imagine looking out your front door and coming face-to-face with a Polar Bear.
Another story from out East: Watch this black bear with three cubs trying to cross a ski hill down in Maine.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT?
Never approach or feed any wildlife (including squirrels), and always pack out what you pack in. Indirectly feeding wildlife by being careless and leaving garbage out is just as bad as directly feeding wildlife. The end result is the same in both cases – the animal will likely have to be relocated or destroyed. Read more in this article from this time last year about garbage being left behind at day use areas.
Ensure that all attractants such as food, garbage, recycling, bird feeders, pets, pet food and greasy BBQs are secure and not accessible by wildlife at home and out on the trails. Bears are especially hungry at this time of year and always searching for food so please do not draw them into residential areas, picnic areas or campsites by providing them with any sort of a meal.
AND NOW SOME PAWS-ITIVE NEWS
To help celebrate Earth Day, the Grizzly Paw Brewing Company is donating $1 from every pint of draft beer sold today from both their Pub and Tank310 locations to Biosphere Institute! We will be at the Grizzly Paw Brewery behind the Shops of Canmore at 5pm for a beer so come on by and join us! Many thanks to the Grizzly Paw for their support!
Each year on April 22, we celebrate Earth Day. In recognition of the efforts that people of all ages are making to care for this place we call home, I wanted to share this amazing story of some young folks who wanted to do their part in protecting the planet. Click here or on the image below to read the story about these inspiring local students!
From left to right: Maya, Zoe, Abigail, Nick & Hadley
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