We are collaborating with recreational trail user groups to identify solutions for improving human-wildlife coexistence on the extensive trail networks within Canmore and Kananaskis Country.

The Bow Valley is one of the world’s largest hubs for outdoor recreation. Many local residents move to the area for its diverse outdoor opportunities, including hiking, mountain biking, climbing, trail running, skiing, horseback riding, and more. Outdoor recreation also draws millions of visitors annually from Calgary, Edmonton, and around the globe.

Wildlife Champions

We are beginning development of a new education program called Wildlife Champions. This online, interactive course will break human-wildlife co-existence into modules, each focusing on a different aspect of co-existence. We aim for this to help create a community of recreationists who regularly practice sustainable and wildlife-friendly practices. Participants will undergo a journey of learning about issues related to wildlife in the Bow Valley, a series of personal reflection exercises, and a series of “challenges” to share their newfound knowledge with their community.

Complete the form below to sign up for updates on the Wildlife Champions and an invitation to pilot test the platform when available.

key learnings

As a first step in this process, we engaged trail users to understand their priorities when they are out recreating, their knowledge about wildlife management, and their perspectives on coexistence challenges and solutions.

We found that:

Trail user groups have limited knowledge about the impacts of recreation on wildlife, but they are interested in learning
Multiple avenues are available and needed for wildlife-related communication
Communications could be more effective if they focus on the “WHY” rather than simply the “what”
A comprehensive Trail Management Strategy is essential, and should be situated within a broader understanding of cumulative effects of all human activity on wildlife
Trail users want to be good stewards of the environment

Trusted Messengers

This project, funded by Alberta Ecotrust, addressed wildlife conservation by empowering Bow Valley community members to design, deliver, and evaluate tailored human-wildlife coexistence messages together with Biosphere Institute staff.

Biosphere staff worked with Trusted Messengers from community groups, mostly online due to COVID-19, to develop conservation messages tailored to their peer or recreational user group. Messages were delivered through conversations, video, social media, or a combination. We used surveys and interviews to evaluate the effectiveness of messages delivered. We assessed target audiences’ knowledge and behaviours before and after our communications efforts.

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