Attractants are a major source of interaction between bears and other wildlife and humans.

Attractants include natural foods such as fruit- and berry-producing shrubs and trees, and unnatural foods such as garbage, compost, bird feeders, pets and livestock.

Attractant management is essentially a food management program designed to lessen potentially dangerous wildlife activity in and near residential neighbourhoods, schools, campgrounds and trails. Both natural and unnatural attractants are removed, allowing bears and other wildlife to feed in safer locations, such as habitat patches in the mountain parks.

Since 2007, the Bow Valley community has identified and implemented several wildlife attractant management strategies. In 2018, the Bow Valley Human-Wildlife Coexistence Technical Working Group highlighted the ongoing importance of attractant management in several of its Recommendations for Improving Human-Wildlife Coexistence in the Bow Valley.

Residents of the Bow Valley borrow extendable fruit pickers and pruning shears from the Biosphere Institute office in Canmore. This equipment is available free of charge and allows citizens to remove fruit and berry bushes on their property.

Keep Wildlife Alive Ambassador Project

In 2023, a pilot project partnership was initiated by the Biosphere Institute and the Town of Canmore that was informed by the Keep Wildlife Alive Campaign developed by the Towns of Canmore and Banff. The Ambassadors involved with this project conduct education-based door-to-door canvassing in order to connect with residents of Canmore, with the goal of informing them about the importance of removing wildlife attractants, such as fruit trees, from their properties. Click here to learn more!

PLANT SPECIES FOR LANDSCAPING

Bears are attracted to ripened fruit because of its sweet taste and high caloric value. Pick fruit as it ripens, remove berry bushes or fruit trees, or landscape with non-fruit bearing species.

natural and unnatural attractants

Berry removal programs help to eliminate natural attractants from high human use areas in the Bow Valley, allowing bears to seek food elsewhere, such as in less developed areas within Banff National Park and Kananaskis Country. Bow Valley communities have also taken proactive steps to manage unnatural attractants such as garbage.

Backyard Basics

• Avoid planting shrubs and trees that provide food for bears, and consider their removal if you already have them. For information on specific types of berries or other fruit, bushes, shrubs and flowers to avoid, click here.

  • For additional information on Fruit Trees and Bears click here.

• Do not feed wildlife. Feeding wildlife such as deer in urban areas has long-term implications such as increased disease risk, habituation to humans, habitat destruction, increased wildlife vehicle collisions and public safety concerns.

  • Click here to read more about Urban Deer conflicts.

• Keep your lawn mowed and yard weed-free, especially of dandelions.

• Consider using an electric fence to keep wildlife out of your garden.

• Do not use bird feeders of any kind during bear season (April 1 to November 30). Use bird baths instead as a safe option.

• Remember to clean the ground underneath bird feeders.

• Do not feed your pets outside, and store pet food indoors.

• Keep BBQs clean and take drip pans inside.

Garbage, Recycling and Composting

• Use bear-proof bins. Ensure the lid is in working order and securely fastened before you leave.

• Securely store garbage at all times. Do not leave garbage outside even for a minute.

• Compost kitchen waste indoors to prevent attracting bears and other wildlife.