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 (Sep.11, 2025)
(Banff National Park East Gate to Bow Valley Provincial Park)
It is almost mid-September and there are still berries in the Bow Valley and Kananaskis Country! That is good news for the bears as they remain focused on feeding on berries and other natural food sources while they can. Let’s all do our best to give them the space they need to feed undisturbed (at least 100m) AND let’s do our best to remove wildlife attractants such as fruit trees (or at least the fruit) so that we don’t draw bears into town and get them into trouble! 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!
Properly managing and storing wildlife attractants (such as food, drinks, garbage, fruit trees, pet food, bird feeders, greasy bbq’s) is of utmost importance as bears and other wildlife continue to be seen in and around residential areas, campgrounds and day use areas! In Banff National Park, some campers are facing charges after a wolf feasted on human food and garbage they left unattended at Two Jack Lakeside campground. As such, a Wolf Warning remains in place for the Two Jack Lakeside Campground due to wolves that are frequenting the area and have shown bold behaviour.
If you plan on doing some camping, remember to keep your campsite clean and garbage free! Make sure that wildlife attractants such as food and scented items are secured in your vehicle, hard-sided trailer or bear-proof lockers, and that all garbage is placed in wildlife-proof bins. Never leave your food unattended - even for a minute - and try not to have too much food out on your table. If a bear (or any wildlife) approaches your picnic table with food on it, yell and shout to try and scare it away, do your best to secure your food; this scenario would be an example of a good time to use your bear spray. It is important that you do your best to make sure wildlife does not get any food rewards as it could result in wildlife getting relocated or killed.
VIEW CURRENT WARNINGS AND CLOSURES
All trails users need to be mentally prepared to encounter a bear while out recreating as many berry bushes are found along popular trails. It is up to us to make lots of noise to help avoid any surprise encounters, and give them time to move off the tails. But remember, don’t expect bears to move for you as they may be reluctant to move away from their food source. To avoid negative wildlife encounters, you should also travel in groups, stay on designated trails, never try to sneak past wildlife, keep dogs on a leash at all times, give them plenty of space, 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!
Archived photo of grizzly bear in K-Country. Photo by Jamin Mulvey.
SOME THINGS TO ‘BEAR’ IN MIND
Bull elk have one thing in mind during the rut which will last until mid-October. 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 along trails and in wide open fields such as school yards and playing fields around town, which means you may have to choose an alternate route while out for a walk/run/ride. An idea for parents: 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!
Photo by Amar Athwal.
October 1 & 2 - Municipal All-Candidates Forums on the Environment
The Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley will host two All-Candidates Forums on the Environment in advance of the upcoming municipal elections.
Banff Forum
Catherine Robb Whyte Building, Pioneer Room (upstairs from Banff Public Library)
Wednesday, October 1 | 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Canmore Forum
Canmore Seniors’ Association, Creekside Hall
Thursday, October 2 | 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
These forums are an opportunity for residents to hear from candidates about their vision for the future of the Bow Valley and their positions on key environmental issues, including wildlife!
The full list of questions to be asked at the forums is available at:
The forum will also be broadcast live and recorded so that community members can follow along virtually in real time or watch afterward. We will share the broadcast link once it becomes available at: biosphereinstitute.org/election-forums
WILDLIFE AMBASSADOR WORDS OF WISDOM
Don’t stop for roadside bears! Part 1 of this 2 part video series talks about the Do's and Don'ts of roadside bear viewing in Kananaskis. One key message: don't stop next to roadside bears. But there actually IS a time when you SHOULD stop. Enjoy the Part 2 video below!
Kananaskis Country is home to a lot of animals, including bears. Recreating safely in bear country means more than just knowing what to do in a bear encounter. It’s also understanding signs that bears are around, so that maybe those encounters can be prevented.
Bears are big enough that they almost always leave evidence that they’ve been present – if you know what to look for. Keeping your eyes peeled for this evidence can help you be aware if bears are present, and will decrease the risk that you’ll accidentally run into a bear. Every month we’re going to learn about some of the signs bears leave in the forest, and in this edition of Watching for Bear Signs by Derek Ryder, Volunteer Wildlife Ambassador & IGA Interpretive Guide, it is Flipped Rocks.
A prime food for bears any time they’re awake is ants. A few months ago, I noted that broken logs were a good sign bears were going after Carpenter ants. Being opportunistic feeders, bears often just sniff for things on their travels. Finding an ant colony as they walk from point A to point B is kind of a food “freebee”. And one place ants live is under rocks.
It is not the slightest bit uncommon to be walking on a trail, through a meadow, or in an open forest, and find rocks that have been flipped over. Usually, the flipped rocks are big; the bigger the rock, the more that can hide under it. In the last few weeks alone, I’ve seen rocks flipped over that were so heavy, it was hard for me to move them. Click here to read Derek’s full article about Flipped Rocks!
Click on this image of a flipped rock to read the full 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.
September 14 - artsPlace Community Market from 10am-4pm.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT?
There is lots of visible fruit on crabapple and mountain ash trees around town and that will likely attract bears into town in the coming weeks! 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. Remove your fruit trees or their fruit, or you may face steep fines and be responsible for killing a bear! To find out more about the fines associated with allowing wildlife attractants such as fruit to accumulate on trees and on the ground, view/download the Community Standards Bylaw here.
WildSmart has pruning shears, 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.
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 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 more details!
WILDLIFE IN THE NEWS
Bull elk have one thing in mind as rut begins in Banff.
Wolf gets into human food in Banff and campers get charged.
Black bear killed after being recorded stealing picnics in Burnaby, B.C.
Boulder, Colorado man slashed by bear while walking dogs.
Playful black bear duo spotted on golf course in Golden, B.C.
Oodles of bears caught on camera at JBER cemetery in Alaska.
Wheatland Beekeeper devastated after bear ransacks his hives in Wyoming.
Hundreds of bears have been sighted in NW Ontario this summer.
Fat Bear Week is coming – and the competition will be chunky.
AND NOW SOME PAWS-ITIVE NEWS
Canmore Folk Fest Waste Report - The 2025 Green Team went above and beyond in helping Folk Fest move closer to zero waste. Thanks to the dedication of 48 volunteers, an incredible 87% of waste was diverted from the landfill. The reusable cup pilot alone prevented 3,685 single-use cups from becoming trash. Altogether, these efforts kept 0.74 tonnes of CO₂ out of the atmosphere. That’s about the same weight as four large female grizzly bears!
This graphic shows how the waste was categorized at this year's Folk Fest!
Banff Ave Brewing Co. Charity Tap - Cheers to Local Conservation!
Only a few weeks left to get your pint(s)! 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 wildlife!
UPCOMING EVENTS
September 25 - Learning in the Gardens: Living Smart with Wildlife
Join us in the NWMP Barracks gardens for an engaging evening of wildlife safety and awareness with Nick de Ruyter, WildSmart Program Director at the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley. This FREE interactive workshop will help you stay safe and coexist responsibly with the wildlife that share our valley. With berry season winding down, we turn our attention to fruit tree attractants and the elk rut. Learn practical skills and knowledge, including:
How to avoid and handle wildlife encounters in the Bow Valley
How to manage attractants at home and on the trails (fruit trees, food, and garbage)
How to safely carry and use bear spray, with hands-on practice using inert training spray
Why reporting wildlife in town matters, and why we don’t want bears in our backyards
The workshop will conclude with a Q&A and discussion on how you can play a role in building a community of coexistence. Limited spots available - Register here now!
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 10am-5pm at the Banff Train Station, 327 Railway Ave., Banff.
Click Here to Book your Banff Test drive!
Canmore MEET
This event will take place in Canmore from October 2 to 19, 2025, every Thursday to Sunday from 10am-5pm at the Canmore Recreation Centre, 1900 8 Ave., Canmore.
November 21 - Do-Si-Do for the Biosphere Institute: Square Dance Fundraiser
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!
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