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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 UPDATE (May 9-16, 2024)
(Banff National Park East Gate to Bow Valley Provincial Park)
Bears continue to be seen along trails, roads and in residential neighbourhoods on both sides of the valley in Canmore, as well as throughout the Bow Valley and Kananaskis Country. Even mother bears with young cubs have been seen in residential areas, on trails and by the roadside. It is crucial to give these families of bears plenty of space to move about and feed undisturbed.
The upcoming long weekend will bring more people into the Mountain Parks than bears have been accustomed to in recent weeks. As a result, there will likely be a spike in bear sightings and we all need to do our part to help keep people and wildlife safe! That includes properly securing wildlife attractants at campsites and day use areas. Garbage, food and scented items need to be stored inside a vehicle, hard sided trailer or bear lockers.
Some reminders for trail runners and mountain bikers who move quickly and often quietly along the trails: Make lots of noise (yell, shout) to let wildlife know you are coming down the trail 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. It is also a good idea to keep ear buds out for better situational awareness, check behind you to make sure you are not being followed by wildlife, and always carry bear spray in an accessible location, and know how to use it!
Grizzly bear feeding in K-Country on May 15, 2024.
Elk calving season has started. Never approach elk for any reason! Mother elk can become very protective of their calves, aggressively kicking or charging if they feel threatened. The best way to keep them at ease is to stay at least 30m away - which is three school bus lengths, and not try to sneak past them. The presence of newborn elk calves can also attract predators such as bears, cougars, wolves and coyotes into town who are looking for an easy meal. Read this recent article about a cougar that killed a young elk at Banff's Tunnel Mountain campground prompting a warning (see below). Newborns will spend much of their time alone in their early days and will appear lifeless in order to avoid detection by predators. Their mother is not far away. Always carry bear spray, be prepared to use it and keep your pets on a leash.
VIEW CURRENT WARNINGS AND CLOSURES
A cougar that hunted and killed a young elk in Tunnel Mountain campground in Banff has prompted a Cougar Warning from Parks Canada for all trails, facilities and campgrounds within the Tunnel Mountain area and along the Tunnel Mountain bench in Banff (see map below).
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
The green grass and dandelions along the highways are drawing all kinds of wildlife to the roadside as this is their springtime food. Remember to obey speed limits and slow down when passing wildlife, but don’t stop, and always stay in your vehicle. Give bears at least 100m of space at all times! Roadside vegetation is some of the first to green up at this time of the year and fulfills important habitat needs for bears. Other animals like elk, deer and sheep rely on this same early season green up which means a higher risk for vehicle collisions with wildlife.
Photo of elk taken on May 17, 2023 near the boardwalk in Canmore.
Ever wonder what bears do in May? Learn all about it from our friends at BearWise south of the border. “May at a Glance: All bears visit all the places where they reliably found food last year. Cubs learn how to climb up (and down) trees, and learn to “talk.” Cubs are still nursing, but start experimenting with bear food. Mother bears sometimes leave the youngsters alone and travel up to two miles to search for food. Cubs that are alone aren’t usually orphaned or abandoned.” Click here to read the full article about “What bears do in May!”
For the birders - Alberta Conservation Association’s Peregrine Falcon Live Stream wildlife cameras are back for 2024! Watch the adventure unfold as the fastest animal on Earth fights for mates, preys on food, and raises their young. Keep checking back on their five live streams monitoring peregrine falcon nesting boxes in and around Edmonton. Which nest will hatch first? There's only one way to find out by clicking here!
FOOD FOR THOUGHT?
Some things are out of our control, but with the long weekend coming up, properly securing your food and garbage is something you can control!
Never feed any wildlife and never leave food unattended!
If you see garbage on the ground, help out by picking it up and putting it in a bin
If the bin is full, take the garbage home with you
Never leave food or garbage on the ground!
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 out at Cougar Creek, Grotto Canyon and Wasootch. Note: the locations they are stationed at may change at the last minute.
Saturday, May 18 - Canmore Engine Bridge & Highway 40 Road Closure near Highwood Pass
Sunday, May 19 - Canmore Riverside Park and West Canmore Park
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 AMBASSADOR WORDS OF WISDOM
We can’t prevent bears from walking through our picnic areas, campsites and backyards, but we can certainly do our best not to give them a food reward or a reason to linger! Keep them moving along by ensuring your campsites and yards are free of attractants such as food, garbage, pet food, greasy bbq’s and bird feeders. Here are some great tips from Wildlife Ambassador Karen…
WILDLIFE IN THE NEWS
Two black bears were put down in Banff National Park.
Two Banff black bears destroyed — one for behavioral issues and another due to health.
Mother black bear that attacked woman in Squamish won’t be killed as bear attack was 'defensive in nature.'
2 bears put down in Whitehorse marks bad season start: conservation officers.
Man's doberman charges grizzly bear with cubs in Southern Alberta.
Bear spray discharged in class at Southern Alberta K-9 school.
Cheeky coyote nips leg of unsuspecting black bear.
Bear raids watermelon from Southern California family's fridge.
AND NOW SOME PAWS-ITIVE NEWS
This past week was busy for WildSmart! We had a great time at the ‘Share the Trails’ event on May 10, where we had our first horse visitors check out our booth! It was great to chat with a demographic we don’t normally see out on the trails and discuss some of the challenges associated with riding horses in Bear Country!
We also enjoyed delivering wildlife safety and awareness training to the children (ages 2-5) at Mountain Munchkins Daycare in Canmore. It always impresses us how much the young children in the Bow Valley already know about wildlife safety. They are on it!
One of the daycare children checking out the cougar pelt!
Is your refundable recycling piling up? Did you know you can help support us by donating your refundable recyclables through 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 and use promo code “SKIPIG24” for a 90% refund on your next pickup!
2. Place your bags outside
3. Your refund gets donated directly to the Biosphere Institute!
Spread the word and share with friends! SkipTheDepot is a great way to donate directly to the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley and WildSmart. Thanks for your support!
UPCOMING EVENTS
May 18 - Bear & Cougar Safety & Awareness
Our friends at the Mountain View BearSmart Society are pleased to invite you to a bear and cougar safety and awareness presentation from 1-3pm on May 18 at the hall in Westward Ho Campground, located east of Sundre in Mountain View County.
1 to 2 pm – Learn how to avoid encounters with bears and cougars; how to act appropriately if you encounter a bear or cougar; how to use bear spray.
2 to 3 pm – Bear Spray Training (with inert spray) – outdoors (weather permitting).
BearSmart displays will be set up in the hall and wildlife biologists will be available to answer questions. Coffee and snacks provided. Free event – Donations to support the society are gratefully accepted! Click here for directions and event information!
May 22 - Bear Aware Online
Join the Town of Banff and Parks Canada in an interactive Bear Aware session that will have you learning how to be safe in bear country. The 60-minute webinar will be led by two Parks Canada wildlife specialists and includes a presentation on how to identify different types of bears, common bear behaviours and tools and tips to prevent bear encounters. This FREE online session is on Wednesday, May 22 from 7-8pm. Click here to register online!
June 1 - Green Buildings Open House
This year’s Green Buildings Open House tour has ten homes across the Bow Valley, including Passive House construction, deep energy retrofits, geo-exchange systems, biomass district energy and a net zero home. All that along with solar, electric vehicles and more!
Bring your friends; we’ll see you on the FREE tour on Saturday, June 1! View the properties and plan your tour by clicking here!
This is an open-house tour. When the homes are open, you can make your own way there, and the homeowners and volunteers will show you around. You do not need to register in advance for the tour unless you wish to tour the Spring Creek site in Canmore, where registration for a specific tour time is mandatory. Register for a Spring Creek specific tour time here!
Volunteers Needed: Green Buildings Open House
In addition to hosting the event, we are still looking for volunteers for a variety of responsibilities at the Green Buildings Open House event. Click the button below to find out more and sign-up!
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