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 now!
BEAR ACTIVITY UPDATE (June 4, 2026)
(Banff National Park East Gate to Bow Valley Provincial Park)
Reports of bears continue to increase as more people are out on the landscape. Lots of grizzly bears are out in K-Country, and there are an increasing number of black bear sightings around Canmore, on both sides of the valley. With bears being seen around Canmore, and aggressive mother elk protecting their calves, it is a good idea to be carrying your bear spray whenever you leave the house to go out for a walk, run or ride! Bear spray should always be carried while recreating on the local trails in and around Canmore.
Several mothers with cubs continue to be seen regularly in the Bow Valley and K-Country roadside. If you like bears and want to keep them safe - give them lots of space, at least 100m, even while in your car!
A reminder to campers and day users to ensure you keep a clean and wildlife attractant free picnic area and campsite. Do not leave food unattended, even for a minute, and do not burn food in fire pits or leave any garbage or food waste in fire pits or around campsites and cooking areas. Dispose of garbage in bear-proof bins, and store food in hard-sided trailers, vehicles and storage lockers. 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! Don’t be the reason a bear has to be killed because it got into un-natural food sources on your campsite!
There have also been almost daily reports of multiple bears on the golf courses in and around Canmore and K-Country; even golfers should be carrying bear spray, giving wildlife space and making sure they do NOT leave any food and attractants unattended in their golf carts!
On the Trail: Avoid surprise encounters by making lots of noise (yell, shout) to let wildlife know you are coming down the trail to give them time to move off of the trail. 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. If you see a bear on a trail, do NOT try to sneak past it. Wait until it leaves or find another way around and have your bear spray ready. All trail users should always be thinking about bears and expecting encounters so that they are mentally prepared to properly handle those encounters. If you know of or have heard of bear activity in a given area, please consider recreating elsewhere!
IMPORTANT: Bears can and will be encountered on busy trails. If a bear is walking down the trail towards you (and if safe to do so), simply try moving off of the trail to let them pass, but always have your bear spray out and ready just in case. If the bear continues past, you were just in the way. If the bear turns to follow you, there is more going on and you should have your bear spray out and be ready to spray the bear.
Black bear with yearlings down in K-Country.
ELK: Elk continue calving in and around Canmore and they are being very protective of their young. During elk calving season (which runs from May-June), mother elk can become very defensive and will aggressively protect their calves by kicking and charging at you if they feel threatened, especially if dogs are involved. As such, people need to stay well away from ALL elk to prevent a physical confrontation with them, and need to be extra vigilant of mother elk that will be hiding their calves in dense vegetation near parks, fields and trails.
Never approach elk for any reason and if you see any elk, immediately leave the area and DO NOT TRY TO SNEAK PAST THEM. Even bikers should not be trying to sneak past elk on the trails. Turn around and go the opposite direction and give elk lots of space, at least 30m (3 school bus lengths), keep your pets on a leash (and under control at all times) and always carry bear spray and be prepared to use it.
When walking with dogs, stay well clear of all elk (we recommend over 100m) and leave the area immediately. Mother elk will charge at dogs from a distance, even when on leash, in order to protect their offspring. RELATED ARTICLE: Here is an article from this time last year about a dog that was trampled and killed by an elk in Canmore.
If you do find yourself in the cross hairs of an aggressive cow elk, get some sort of barrier between you and the elk (i.e. larger trees, car, boulders, picnic table, etc.). Do not turn your back on the elk and try and get behind the barrier as quickly as possible. Use your bear spray if needed.
IMPORTANT: During May and June there is an increased risk of encountering predators such as bears, cougars, wolves and coyotes who are looking for an easy elk calf meal. This poses more public safety risks. Do not touch or remove young calves if they are found in the woods! 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…
VIEW CURRENT WARNINGS AND CLOSURES
Coyote Warning: Bow Falls Trail, Glen Avenue, Glen Crescent, and Spray Avenue in Banff due to active coyotes in the area that have been exhibiting aggressive behaviour. Keep animals leashed and under control, give coyotes space, and report sightings at 403-762-1470.
A reminder to please report any sightings of a bear, cougar, wolf or any aggressive wildlife in the Bow Valley or K-Country to Kananaskis Dispatch at 403-591-7755. In Banff, call Dispatch at 403.762.1470. They prefer to get first hand reports from the people who see the wildlife!
SOME THINGS TO ‘BEAR’ IN MIND
Ever wonder what black bears do in June? Learn all about it from our friends at BearWise south of the border. June at a Glance: Yearlings leave mom and search for food, shelter and a place of their own. Adult males travel far and wide looking for mates. Nursing moms venture farther from home base searching for food. Cubs keep growing and developing. Spring lessons can be life-changing. Click here to read the full article about “What bears do in June!”
Last week we touched on the dangers of having wildlife in town and how wildlife such as elk should NOT be in town and should NOT be dropping their calves in busy urban areas. A black bear was tranquilized and relocated for doing the right thing (eating an elk calf) in the wrong place (near a very busy downtown area in Canmore). Those elk and calves should be outside of town (where they are supposed to be) so that bears and other carnivores are not drawn into town looking for an easy meal. There are many potential public safety risks when wildlife are drawn into busy urban areas.
There are still many residents in the Bow Valley who want wildlife like elk in town, and even encourage elk to stay in town, by feeding them so that they can selfishly watch them in their backyards while drinking their morning coffee. Ultimately - this is NOT good for the elk and brings with it inherent safety risks such as mother elk killing dogs and attacking people, and bears getting relocated. Find out more in the following article:
“Urban Elk” By Robin Contos
A herd of elk is a common sight in the Town of Canmore. Urban settings are becoming more and more appealing to ungulates like elk, as there are large open green spaces, such as soccer fields, where they can graze peacefully without worrying about predators.
However, there are some dangers to both humans and elk that can result from elk becoming more comfortable hanging around these areas.
Without the threat of predators, mother elk may choose to calve within the town. A mother elk will be aggressively protective of her offspring, meaning she will not hesitate to charge people or dogs that get too close to her calf. Although mother elk may pick locations in town to calve because they feel safe from predators, the flip side of this is that they may instead just be drawing predators into the town site. Bears and cougars (and sometimes coyotes and wolves) are particularly interested in elk calves so be especially aware of this in the spring.
The difficulties brought with calving in urban areas are not the only concerns. Chronic wasting disease (CWD), is a fatal neurological illness that can spread quickly through large groups of ungulates. The higher the concentration of elk in a small area, the more detrimental an outbreak would be.
It is important to always report sick or aggressive wildlife as soon as possible. Phone Kananaskis Dispatch at (403) 591-7755 to make a report in the Bow Valley and K-Country.
Always be aware of the location of wildlife in your area and give them as much space as possible.
A recent example of urban elk in Canmore.
WILDLIFE AMBASSADOR WORDS OF WISDOM
Wildlife Ambassador Derek talks about how we should visit the mountains with respect as it’s not REALLY our backyard!
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. Note: their locations may change at the last minute.
June 6 - Canmore Engine Bridge and Troll Falls
June 7 - Banff Recreation & Parks Day in Sundance Park (recreation grounds in Banff).
FOOD FOR THOUGHT?
Roadside vegetation is some of the first to green up at this time of the year and fulfills important habitat needs for local wildlife. This results in a higher risk for vehicle collisions with wildlife. Remember to obey speed limits and slow down when passing wildlife, but don’t stop. Always stay in your vehicle! Give bears at least 100m of space at all times! Obey all “No Stopping Signs” and if you see one animal be prepared to see more and adjust your speed accordingly. Friends of Kananaskis Country have great Tips for Roadside Wildlife Viewing for motorists and cyclists.
Fruit trees attract bears into our neighbourhoods which puts people and wildlife at risk and accessing fruit trees is the number one reason why bears in the Bow Valley are relocated or killed. With the fruit trees in bloom these days, it is easy to spot the chokecherry and crabapple trees. Although these blossoms are beautiful, keep in mind that they might blossom into human-bear conflicts later this summer and fall!
Fruit Tree Removal and Replacement Incentive Program - We are making Canmore safer for people and wildlife by reducing financial barriers to remove and replace fruit trees. Thanks to the generous support from the G7, we’re continuing our partnership with the Town of Canmore this year to offer the Fruit Tree Replacement Incentive using the remaining funds from the 2025 allotment. The replacement incentive is run concurrently with the Fruit Tree Removal Incentive to encourage residents to remove and replace fruit-bearing vegetation from their properties, an important action to ensure that wildlife is kept wild in the Bow Valley. Click here to learn more or apply for the incentive! Applications are open while funds are available.
Your tree blossoms will blossom into bear problems later! Remove them now and replace them with a non-fruit bearing alternative!
WILDLIFE IN THE NEWS
No bears relocated, put down in Bow Valley or Kananaskis in 2025.
Aggressive coyote encounters in Banff trigger warning.
Banff elk population down nearly 39%, but herd remains healthy.
Mama black bear killed in Golden Ears Park, B.C. for aggressive behaviour.
Video: 'So there's a bear in your truck' in Whistler, B.C.
Close encounters of the cougar kind on valley trail.
Drone harassing mother bear and cubs at Yellowstone leaves visitors ‘Madder than Hell’.
Bear attacks in Fukushima City leave 4 people injured.
AND NOW SOME PAWS-ITIVE NEWS
The 4th annual 'Ways of the Bison' program day for students was another great day of learning together! The event hosted 40 Grade 4 students from École Notre-dame des Monts and Nakoda Elementary School alongside Îyarhe Nakoda Knowledge Keepers and Parks Canada staff. Students learned about Bison as a cultural and ecological keystone species. Most importantly, they exchanged smiles and games while learning that, when we follow the ways of the bison, we are stronger together. Click here to view more photos from Ways of the Bison from the RM Outlook.
Photo by Jungmin Ham-RMO PHOTO
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
Volunteer with the FireSmart Ambassador Program!
Want to help build a more wildfire-resilient Bow Valley? This summer, the Biosphere Institute is recruiting volunteers for our FireSmart Ambassador Program. Volunteers will support an educational campaign across Canmore, helping residents learn practical ways to reduce wildfire risk and strengthen community resilience.
No experience is needed. Flexible shifts, full training, volunteer swag, and appreciation events are all included. This is a great opportunity to meet your neighbours, build new skills, and contribute to meaningful local action. Click here to learn more and apply.
UPCOMING EVENTS
June 7 - Banff Recreation and Parks Day. Join the Town of Banff for Recreation and Parks Day at Okâch – Îyethkabi Oûgitûbi pavilion building in Sundance Park (recreation grounds in Banff) on Sunday June 7 from 10am-2pm! Learn to build spring crowns, sip Japanese Tea, listen to a story with the Banff Library, enjoy a BBQ and more! WildSmart and some Wildlife Ambassadors will be there with a booth and we look forward to chatting with you! Click here for more details and to register for scheduled activities.
June 15 - Birds in Our Backyard & How to Help Them Thrive (Earth Talks). Join us for an engaging, FREE, family-friendly presentation and bird walk with Ann Fu and Gareth Thomson (7:00-8:00pm, Friends Program Room, Canmore Public Library). We’ll begin at the library with a short presentation on the challenges birds face in developed environments and what we can do to reduce our impact at home, at work, and in our community. We’ll then head outdoors to explore the nearby Policeman's Creek boardwalk and trails where participants will practice birdwatching and identification. Space is limited! Click here to register now
June 20 - Harnessing Power of Food Workshop: Food is Our Teacher. What can food teach us about community, culture, reciprocity, and care? Join us for "Food is Our Teacher" with Tracey Stevens (Îyârhe Nakoda), the first workshop in our 2026 Harnessing the Power of Food series! Together, we’ll explore stories, cultural knowledge, and practical skills while reflecting on how food connects us across generations, cultures, and relationships to place.
📍 Co+Kitchen, Canmore, AB
🕙 10:00am–12:00pm🎟 Sliding scale tickets: $20–50 Click here to register and buy your ticket now!
June 24 - Online Bear Aware: Bear Safety Session with the Town of Banff and Parks Canada (7:00-8:15pm Online). Learn how to be safe in bear country, how to identify different types of bears, common bear behaviours and tools and tips to prevent bear encounters - Click here to register for free
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