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 11, 2026)
(Banff National Park East Gate to Bow Valley Provincial Park)
There continue to be consistent bear sightings in Canmore (mostly black bears) and regular bear sightings throughout the Bow Valley and in Kananaskis Country (roadside along Highway 40 and near the golf courses), often feeding on green grass and dandelions along highways, roads and trails. Make lots of noise (yell, shout) to let wildlife know you are coming down the trail to avoid surprise encounters, and give them time to move off of the trail. Always be prepared to encounter bears throughout the Bow and Kananaskis Valleys. If you know of or have heard of bear activity in a given area, please consider recreating elsewhere!
There is a Bear Warning at the Canmore Nordic Centre due to numerous black bears, including a black bear sow and cubs-of-the-year, that have been seen in the area on and in close proximity to the trails, and a Bear Warning has been placed in the Kananaskis Lakes area including all facilities due to multiple bears in the area.
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!
Black bear with 3 cubs near Troll Falls on June 6, 2026.
Speed kills wildlife! This applies everywhere, but especially on Highway 1 (Trans Canada Highway) and Highway 40. Here are some key reminders for motorists:
Obey speed limits and slow down when passing wildlife. Consider slowing to 30 km/h when passing wildlife roadside. Obey all “No Stopping Signs” and if you see one animal be prepared to see more and adjust your speed accordingly.
Give bears at least 100m of space at all times! Do not linger near wildlife feeding roadside and keep moving along.
Do not stop to view wildlife and always stay in your vehicle.
Be extra vigilant at dawn, dusk and during night time hours to avoid collisions with wildlife. Bears, as well as all sorts of other animals, are still utilizing the roadside ditches for feeding on the natural vegetation such as green grass and dandelions, which fulfills important habitat needs for these animals at this time of year.
Seeing wildlife roadside (or ON the road) can be an awesome experience, but it's critical for the safety of the wildlife, and yours too, that you do it right. The Friends of Kananaskis Country have some great Tips for Roadside Wildlife Viewing for motorists and cyclists.
The video of the moose below was taken on June 7, 2026 from a moving car (that slowed down but did not stop). As you can see, you can still get a good video/picture of wildlife feeding roadside without stopping or getting out of your vehicle. Be a good neighbour and give wildlife the space they need (and deserve) to feed undisturbed!
Video courtesy of @frontrangesrunning
Managing Wildlife Attractants: 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.
At your picnic table - Do not have so much food spread all around your table(s) as you will not have enough time to gather it and secure it if a bear were to approach. Think about storing all your food in a plastic bin or cooler that can easily and quicky be gathered up and moved/stored in your vehicle, hard-sided trailer or bear locker. The goal is to try and make sure the bear does NOT get any food rewards. If a bear approaches your campsite or picnic table, do your best to gather up and secure all the food and USE YOUR BEAR SPRAY. 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!
RELATED ARTICLE: Warning issued after bear enters unoccupied tent in Banff National Park.
ELK: The Elk Calving Warning remains in effect for Canmore. Some elk calves are already mobile and moving around with less defensive mothers, however there continue to be other cow elk showing aggression towards people who are getting too close to their calves! These incidents are occurring on both sides of the valley along trails and near green spaces. Calves are often hidden in dense vegetation along the trails so extra vigilance is required.
People need to stay well away from ALL elk to prevent a physical confrontation with them. 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 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.
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.
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.
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…
Cow elk with calf. Remember to stay away from all elk, at least 30m (3 school bus lengths).
VIEW CURRENT WARNINGS AND CLOSURES
Bear Warning: Lake Minnewanka Trail due to a bear of unknown species that entered an unoccupied tent.
Bear Warning: Rampart Creek Campground due to a black bear that is frequenting the area and exhibiting curious behaviour, including close approaches to people and campsites. Be prepared to encounter a bear at any time in this area.
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
An important note on ‘when’ to use bear spray!
Not only do you need to carry bear spray in an easily accessible location on your body, but you also need to know when to use it. People should always give bears their space (at least 100m), but if you encounter a bear, give the bear the opportunity to do the right thing and move away while you are also backing away slowly. Bear spray should only be used when the bear approaches you, gets too close to you or charges at you. You should not be approaching a bear to spray it. If a bear is approaching you on a trail, and if safe to do so, try moving off the trail to get out of the way as bears will often travel down trails just like us, and most of the time we are simply in their way…so get out of their way, but have your bear spray ready just in case. If a bear is feeding along a trail, do not disturb it and do NOT try to sneak past it. Wait, turn around, or find another way around giving it lots of space. It is not fair to the bear if you spray it while it is feeding and minding its own business just so you can walk past it. Remember you are in their backyard, not yours, so if they are behaving and doing what they are supposed to, we need to respect that, give them space and leave them alone.
If a bear is on the trail - wait, turn around, or find another way around giving it lots of space (at least 100m). Never try to sneak past bears and it is not appropriate to approach the bear and spray it to move it off the trail.
WILDLIFE AMBASSADOR WORDS OF WISDOM
Living and recreating safely in bear country means understanding many things, from signs that bears are around, to what to do in a bear encounter. As we wander in the wilderness (or even in town sites) we are travelling in a bear’s home: their living areas, dining areas, and even their bathrooms. Recognizing the food sources that bears are currently eating can help raise your awareness of the possibility that bears are around where you are at any given moment. Every month we’re going to look at what bears are eating right now, and for the next few weeks, and in this edition of What are the Bears eating today? by Derek Ryder, Volunteer Wildlife Ambassador & IGA Interpretive Guide, it is Dandelions.
It is now mid June; EVERY bear is awake and has migrated down to the valley bottoms. Sightings of bears in towns and along roadsides have increased. Part of this is because it’s elk calving season, and a bear getting their teeth on a baby elk would be great for the bear (not so much for the elk, but then there’s a lot more elk than bears). However, bears aren’t that great when it comes to hunting, and in general, they get FAR more energy from plants than meat. Now is the time of the year for one of the “Top 5 Plant Foods for Bears in the Bow Valley”: Dandelions. Click here to read Derek’s full article about Dandelions!
Click on this image of a grizzly bear eating Dandelions to read the article!
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 13 - Highway 40 / Highwood Pass Closure Gate
June 14 - Canmore River Trail Loop
FOOD FOR THOUGHT?
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. Be proactive and remove berry bushes and fruit trees from your yards NOW before you attract a bear into town. With the fruit trees in bloom these days, it is easy to spot the chokecherry and crabapple trees. Your tree blossoms will blossom into bear problems later! 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 destroyed.
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 crabapple tree blossoms will blossom into bear problems later! Remove them now and replace them with a non-fruit bearing alternative.
WILDLIFE IN THE NEWS
Mama bear and cubs temporarily pause international mountain bike racing in Canmore.
Grizzly bear trapped, killed after trying to break into central Alberta chicken coop.
Coyote den in Banff backyard being closely monitored.
Grizzly bears move on, no-stopping zone lifted in Banff National Park.
Parks Canada implements no-stopping zone to protect bears in Banff National Park.
Parks Canada expanding grizzly bear collaring in Banff National Park.
Conservationists hope black bear's death in B.C. park 'not in vain,' call for change.
Legendary Banff grizzly bear, The Boss, rips off tracking collar.
California couple fight off bear attack with hatchet and water bottle.
San Diego man survives terrifying grizzly bear attack in Glacier National Park.
'Extremely intelligent' bear that injured four people evades capture in Japan.
AND NOW SOME PAWS-ITIVE NEWS
Congratulations to our Volunteer Wildlife Ambassadors for winning the Emerald Award in the Public Education and Outreach category at the 35th Annual Emerald Awards last week!
The Emerald Awards celebrate the organizations, projects, and individuals across Alberta working to address environmental challenges and build a more resilient and sustainable future - and we are thrilled and honoured to receive this award.
The Volunteer Wildlife Ambassadors engage directly with residents and visitors on trails, at campgrounds, day use areas and in community spaces in the Bow Valley and Kananaskis Country - sharing practical guidance on wildlife safety, responsible recreation, and how individual actions impact wildlife. Since 2007, Wildlife Ambassadors have contributed more than 13,500 hours and connected with nearly 130,000 people! Click here to see all the Emerald Award winners.
If you missed the Livestream last week, you can watch the recording of the Ceremony here!
NOTE: Our category award nomination starts at 1:11:00 in the recording, we receive the award at 1:12:43, and our fabulous Wildlife Ambassador Karen accepted the award on our behalf and did a speech that starts at 1:13:18. Way to go Karen and many thanks and congrats to all the Wildlife Ambassadors on this well-deserved honour!
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 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 21 - Grizzly Paw’s 30th Anniversary BIG SHINY BIRTHDAY BASH. They are turning their brewery's parking lot and backyard BEER GARDEN into a full-on summer festival for the day with 8+ hours of live music, featuring Big Shiny Band, Suzie Q, The Ducks, and more! Tickets: $10 (includes a hot dog + soda) and kids 12 and under are free. Our Wildlife Ambassadors will be there with their hands-on interactive booth and they will be running three FREE 30-minute bear spray demonstrations starting at: 1:30pm, 3:00pm and 5:00pm. You can sign up for the bear spray training at their booth on June 21. Come on by, learn how to use bear spray and chat with them about responsible trail use and how we can all work together to improve human-wildlife coexistence.
Click here for more info and to buy your tickets 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
June 25 - Bear and Cougar Safety and Awareness at the Bergen Community Hall (31547 Range Road 53C) from 6:30-8:30pm. Mountain View BearSmart invites you to a FREE workshop to learn how to be safe in bear country – how to manage attractants at home to reduce human-wildlife conflict, the biology and behaviour of bears and cougars, how to avoid encounters with a bear or cougar, how to act appropriately if you encounter a bear or cougar, and how to use bear spray (outdoors in the parking lot – weather permitting). Register by email to: info@mountainviewbearsmart.com
Click here for more information and directions.
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