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!
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 the reports first hand from the people who see the wildlife!
BEAR ACTIVITY UPDATE (September 4, 2025)
(Banff National Park East Gate to Bow Valley Provincial Park)
Bears continue to be seen regularly in the Bow Valley and Kananaskis Country with their heads down, focused on feeding on berries and other natural food sources. Do not try to sneak past bears and don’t expect bears to move off a food source. Bears can be very possessive of their berry patches and may exert their dominance. As such, two more bear warnings were issued in K-Country this past week, likely due to surprise encounters with grizzly bears feeding.
Bear Warning - Highwood Ridge, Grizzly Ridge and Paradise Valley area south to the Storm Creek/Highwood River confluence due to a grizzly bear bluff charge with bear spray deployed.
Bear Warning - Burstall Pass Parking Lot & surrounding area due to a grizzly bear that bluff charged a hiker in the area.
VIEW CURRENT WARNINGS AND CLOSURES
All trails users need to be mentally prepared to encounter a bear while out recreating and a reminder that day-use areas and campsites need to be kept clean, and wildlife attractants need to be properly secured. To avoid negative wildlife encounters, make lots of noise to alert wildlife of your presence, travel in groups, stay on designated trails, keep dogs on a leash at all times, give them the space they need to forage undisturbed, be extra aware of your surroundings (looks for fresh tracks and scat) and always carry bear spray in an easily accessible location (not your backpack) and know how to use it!
Don’t expect bears to move just because you’re making noise, and never try to sneak past a bear on a trail! Making noise can help to reduce surprise encounters, but bears may not want to give up their food sources. Food is still constantly on a bear’s mind and they are very focused on eating as much food as possible in advance of their upcoming winter hibernation. They should be eating natural foods like berries (outside of town) - and we need to do our best to avoid drawing bears into town looking for easy meals like garbage, pet food, bird seed, and fruit trees. Bears in town can easily encounter unsuspecting kids playing in backyards, parks and commuting to and from school which poses a public safety risk. Removing wildlife attractants such as the fruit from your trees will help keep people safe and could save a bear’s life!
How to Handle a Bear encounter? Remember these 3 simple words – Stop, Talk, & Walk. If you see a bear: STOP: do not run, get out your bear spray, gather your group together, TALK: speak calmly to the bear, it does not matter what you say or what language you say it in. You want to appear non-threatening. Then talk to your group and remind them to stay calm, and slowly back away and do not run. WALK: Do not run and back away slowly leaving the area, and never turn your back on the animal. At any point during the STOP, TALK and WALK, if the bear charges at you, use your bear spray! 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. 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 feeding on natural vegetation. Photo taken on Sep.3, 2025.
SOME THINGS TO ‘BEAR’ IN MIND
The elk rutting season has begun and will last until mid-October so you may hear some loud bugling! Male elk are particularly protective of the female elk they are with and they may become aggressive towards anything that comes too close. Elk frequently hang out in wide open fields such as school yards and playing fields around town. An idea for parents: As students head back to school, have a conversation with your children about giving wildlife lots of space and calmly leaving the area if they see elk or other wildlife.
The best way to keep them at ease is to stay at least 30m away - which is three school bus lengths - NEVER TRY TO SNEAK PAST THEM and never get between a male elk and the female elk. Remember: keep pets on a leash, carry bear spray in an easily accessible location, and if an elk charges, consider using your bear spray or position a large object (e.g. car, large tree) between you and the elk. Even if you are going for a leisurely walk around the neighbourhood in Canmore, you should be carrying bear spray and keeping your distance from all wildlife! Never approach elk up close as they are wild animals that can react unpredictably!
WILDLIFE AMBASSADOR WORDS OF WISDOM
During this busy summer season, there have been many bear jams, which puts unnecessary stress on the animals and causes public safety concerns. Motorists should obey posted speed limits and slow down near roadside wildlife - but don’t stop and cause (or be part of) a bear jam on the highway. Keep moving in order to give bears the space they need to feed undisturbed and never get out of your vehicle! The Friends of Kananaskis Country have some great Tips for Roadside Wildlife Viewing for motorists and cyclists.
Don’t stop for roadside bears! Visiting the Bow Valley and Kananaskis Country? You might find Black Bears or Grizzly Bears by the side of the road. Wildlife Ambassador Derek is back with Part 1 of a 2 part series: the things you should DO, and the things you should NOT do with roadside bears.
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.
September 6 - West Canmore Park
FOOD FOR THOUGHT?
Leaving fruit (such as crabapple, mountain ash, chokecherry and dogwood) in your trees & shrubs can attract bears into residential areas, putting bears and people at risk. It is YOUR responsibility to make sure that bears do not have a reason to linger in your yard, resulting in bears being relocated or killed. Bears are so focused on food this time of year that they are more likely to take risks, like coming into town and backyards to feed in fruit trees. Letting a bear access these higher calorie items such as crabapples won't do it any favours. Once they try these food sources they can learn that towns provide easy meals, meaning they're more likely to stick around and come back. This can become a public safety issue as bears can get protective of food sources, leading to conflicts between bears and humans, with bears normally paying the price by getting relocated or killed.
Here are some important reminders and info about fruit trees for Canmore residents:
Leaving fruit (such as crabapples, mountain ash, chokecherry and dogwood) in your trees can attract bears into residential areas, creating a hazard for people and the children in those neighbourhoods, and also to the bear that may need to be relocated or killed if it continues seeking out residential fruit trees. The best practice is to remove fruit bearing trees and shrubs from your yard, however if you decide to keep your fruit bearing trees and shrubs, ensure the fruit is removed ASAP!
Residents can be fined for letting fruit and berries accumulate on trees and on the ground in their yards as per the Community Standards Bylaw. Key highlights related to Wildlife Attractants include:
New fruit-bearing vegetation that are wildlife attractants will not be allowed to be planted within Canmore, but it allows existing ones to remain.
No Person shall permit a Wildlife Attractant to be placed or remain in an outdoor location where the Wildlife Attractant is accessible to Wildlife. This means fruit and berries are not allowed to accumulate on existing trees, bushes or on the ground!
No Person or Owner shall permit or allow a Wildlife Attractant to be placed or remain in an outdoor location where it attracts Dangerous Wildlife. This means that if a bear is found feeding in your fruit tree, the first offence would be $1,000!
No Person shall feed, attempt to feed, or permit the feeding of Wildlife.
Fines can range between $250 to $10,000.
To find out more, view and download the Community Standards Bylaw here.
If you decide to remove your fruit tree (recommended), the Town of Canmore is running their Fruit Tree Removal and Replacement Incentive Program. Residents can get financial help to remove and replace fruit-bearing trees that attract bears into neighbourhoods. Fruit trees can be replaced with ornamental, non-fruit bearing trees, that produce beautiful blossoms but are not wildlife attractants. These programs are first-come first-served while funds are available. Click here for details and how to apply.
For those residents who are hesitant to remove their fruit trees, bears that get into fruit trees can cause extensive damage to the trees (as shown below) with the end result of the tree dying and often having to be replaced anyways.
WildSmart has pruning shears and extendable pole saw pruners and fruit pickers that can be borrowed (free of charge) to assist Bow Valley residents in removing fruit and berry bushes from their property. Please send an email to resource@biosphereinstitute.org to make arrangements to borrow the fruit removal equipment.
Picked fruit can be put in the residential food waste bins around town. Leaves, branches and clippings can be put in the appropriate bins at the Boulder Crescent Recycling Depot.
You can also use your crabapples to make delicious jams, jellies and baked goods and liqueurs.
Check out the Alberta BearSmart Fruit Trees and Bears fact sheet for more info!
Crabapple tree BEFORE…
and AFTER…This is what can happen if you don’t remove the fruit!
WILDLIFE IN THE NEWS
Black bear cub 'safely apprehended' in SW Calgary neighbourhood.
'Beloved' Banff grizzly bear dies at Calgary Zoo after three decades in captivity.
Survivors of bear attack in Sault Ste. Marie share their story.
Bear with cubs rushes from brush and charges hikers in Montana.
Video shows bear approaching unaware park visitors in Burnaby, B.C.
Bear gets some serious air while picking fruit in Vancouver.
Aggressive bear safely trapped by the MNR in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
Jogger critically injured after being dragged by bear outside her home in Alaska.
Brown bear attacks and kills man in Northern Japan.
Brown bear that killed hiker in Hokkaido was well-known for being accustomed to humans.
World's biggest wildlife crossing to help dwindling cougar population in L.A.
Study shows climate change dramatically shrinking Banff’s alpine meadows.
AND NOW SOME PAWS-ITIVE NEWS
The Do-Si-Do for the Biosphere Institute: Square Dance Fundraiser is back again!
Please join us for some boot stompin' fun at our third annual Square Dance Community Fundraiser! The most fun you can have with your boots on...
Friday November 21, 2025
Doors open: 6:30 PM at the Cornerstone Theatre in Canmore.
Dance begins at 7:30 PM
General Admission: $45+fees
Early bird tickets: $35+fees
We will provide you with an incredible live band, light snacks, prizes, silent auction, and so much laughing your belly will hurt the next day! No prior experience necessary – the square dance caller will teach you. All are welcome! Please let us know if you have any accessibility concerns that we should know about. If affordability is a barrier, please reach out to Resource@biosphereinstitute.org. Fire in the hole!
Banff Ave Brewing Co. Charity Tap - Cheers to Local Conservation!
Have you gotten your pint yet? A huge thank you to Banff Ave Brewing Co. for choosing the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley and WildSmart as beneficiaries of their Community Beer program until the end of September!
Every pint of their crushable Dragonfruit Kölsch supports the Biosphere Institute—so treat yourself to something freshly juicy and help our local environment at the same time. Get yours before it’s gone! Thank you, Banff Ave Brewing Co., for your incredible support!
UPCOMING EVENTS
September 11 - Harnessing the Power of Food Workshop
Join us at The Co+Kitchen for Harnessing the Power of Food, a brand new workshop series! Connect with community and food through hands-on cooking workshops that bring people together over planet-friendly, sustainable meals. Enjoy a dinner together and take home some leftovers! Click here to save your spot and buy your ticket at the subsidized cost of only $11+fees!
Workshop #1: Every Day Meals on a Budget
September 11, 2025 starting at 6pm (doors open at 5:30pm).
Menu: Tofu Pita Burger, Pita bread, Salad with Canadian-harvested veggies.
All menus are thoughtfully curated to highlight international flavours while using locally accessible ingredients. Each class offers a unique cultural experience through hands-on cooking, complemented by prepared items and live demos that showcase global inspiration rooted in our local food landscape.
September 11 to October 19 - EV’s are for Everyone Cross-Canada Tour!
We are proud to partner with national nonprofit Plug’n Drive, a trusted source for electric vehicle education and test drives, to bring the 2025 EV’s are for Everyone Cross-Canada Tour to Banff and Canmore! During the event you can connect with Plug’n Drive EV ambassadors, get your questions answered, and experience the latest in electric vehicle technology. Test drives will be available in a lineup of EVs from leading manufacturers! Click below to book your test drive appointment—drop-ins are welcome, but priority will be given to scheduled visitors.
Banff MEET
This event will take place in Banff from September 11 to 28, 2025, every Thursday to Sunday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the Banff Train Station, 327 Railway Ave, Banff, AB T1L 1A1.
Click Here to Book your Banff Test drive!
Canmore MEET
This event will take place in Canmore from October 2 to 19th, every Thursday to Sunday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the Canmore Recreation Centre, 1900 8 Ave., Canmore.
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