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 (Nov.12, 2026)

(Banff National Park East Gate to Bow Valley Provincial Park)

It was another quiet week for bear sightings in the Bow Valley and Kananaskis Country, and GPS data is showing that most collared grizzly bears have gone into their dens or remain at or near their den sites at higher elevations. That being said, with the warm weather, there are still non-collared bears out and about on the landscape at lower elevations searching for last minute calories. For example, there was a recent Bear Closure posted at Indefatigable Bowl down in K-Country: the bowl area below the south peak, true summit and east peak of Mount Indefatigable are closed until further notice due to grizzly bear activity in the area.

Those calories should not be coming from people and bears will be searching for easy food sources. With food getting scarce, it is extra important for trail and day users to make sure NO attractants are left unattended that could attract bears. For residents - make sure your yard is free of all potential attractants that bears and other wildlife might try to eat such as fruit (on trees and on the ground), pumpkins, bird feeders, unsecured garbage, greasy bbq's and pet food.

Male bears often stay out of their dens longer and remote camera and collar data have shown that some grizzly bear males, like “The Boss”, like to stay out on the landscape into mid-December, and even into January, so we need to make sure we do not leave any attractants outside for bears to eat. With this in mind, it is important that we don’t become complacent when heading out on the trails and that we are mentally prepared for possible encounters with wildlife! Remember to carry bear spray year-round in an easily accessible location (not in your backpack), know how to use it and use it if required.

Although bear sightings have slowed down, there continue to be reports of wildlife along the highways. SLOW DOWN: Remember to drive carefully, obey speed limits, and slow down when passing wildlife that may be feeding or lingering roadside. Motorists need to be extra alert (especially at dawn and dusk) as the days are getting shorter and the number of darkness hours are increasing.

Grizzly bear walking down the busy trail at Johnston Canyon in Banff NP on Oct.14, 2025. Photo by Aiden McKay.

Update on B.C. grizzly bear attack: Grizzly bears have been in the news this past week but not in the Bow Valley. In case you missed it, two women were killed last week in Bella Coola B.C. by a female grizzly bear and her three cubs. This very rare type of attack was likely predatory in nature and DNA testing also confirmed that these four bears were not involved in the 2025 attack one year ago on a school group also in the Bella Coola area.

It has not been established if they surprised the sow and her cubs, if the bears were defending a previous kill, or if the two hikers were actively stalked and hunted. All four bears have been killed in accordance with provincial human-wildlife conflict response guidelines, as this type of predatory behaviour presents an extreme risk to the public, and such bears are dispatched to protect the public and prevent similar attacks in the future. Bears learn from their mothers, so if it was a predatory attack, or it was a defensive attack that resulted in consumption, then it’s possible that the cubs would learn from that incident and possibiliy do it again. RELATED VIDEO - WATCH IN FULL: Officials give update on 4 grizzly bears destroyed following deadly attack.

VIEW CURRENT WARNINGS AND CLOSURES

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!

THE IMPORTANCE OF REPORTING WILDLIFE: Many people believe that reporting a bear in town, especially your backyard, is a death sentence for that bear. The truth is quite the opposite. By not reporting a bear, you are allowing the bear to learn bad behaviours (such as feeding in fruit trees, lingering in backyards, feeding at bird feeders, eating pet food, eating garbage etc.) and you teach the bear that it is OK to come into town and eat unnatural food sources - when in fact it is not OK and it will eventually lead to its death.

SOME THINGS TO ‘BEAR’ IN MIND

The elk rut is over but numerous elk continue to be seen all throughout town which means you have to be alert and you may have to choose an alternate route while out for a walk/run/ride. Give plenty of space to ALL ELK (at least 100 metres or 10 bus lengths) and do not try to sneak past them on the trail! Never approach elk for ANY reason, never get between a male elk and the female elk, and keep your pets on a leash. Remember: Always carry bear spray in an easily accessible location, and if an elk charges, position a large object (e.g. car, large tree) between you and the elk or consider using your bear spray.

HUNTERS need to be cautious as, due to the nature of their activity, they are intentionally being quiet on the landscape. They should always be bear aware and carry bear spray with them while out hunting! Bear spray can save the life of the hunter AND the bear(s). If you are recreating, please remain alert of your surroundings and avoid dead animals.

Bear den locations may surprise you. When you think about a bear den, what comes to mind? A hollow tree? A cozy cave? How about a pile of abandoned tires? Or under your porch? Bears can den up in all those places and many more. Bears are flexible, creative and opportunistic; they will crawl into dens anywhere they feel safe and out of sight. Click here to find out more from BearWise.

Even though the bears have or will enter their dens soon, there are still many species that do not hibernate (i.e. cougars, wolves, coyotes, deer and elk). Every time you head out on the trails you need to be vigilant and mentally prepared for possible encounters with wildlife! Here are some simple things you can do to stay safe on the trails:

Stay on designated trails so that we are more predictable for wildlife
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
Avoid recreating at dusk, dawn or at night, which is when cougars and other wildlife are most active
Be aware of your surroundings by periodically checking behind you to make sure there are no animals following you and by not wearing earbuds/headphones, which will limit your ability to hear approaching wildlife
It is safer to hike, bike, run, or ski in a group. Not only are you more intimidating for wildlife, you will also make more noise
Think about carrying some sort of satellite communications device in case of an emergency
Surprise defensive encounters happen very quickly so it is very important that you know how to use bear spray and that you are able to pull it out and deploy it in under 2 seconds! This requires lots of practice and you need to carry bear spray YEAR-ROUND in an easily accessible location (not in your backpack)! Bear spray is also effective against wildlife that are active year-round such as cougars, wolves, coyotes and elk
KEEP DOGS ON-LEASH as it could save your life, your dog’s life and a bear’s life! If you are not able to do that, consider leaving them at home to give tired elk and deer some peace and quiet and time to recover from the busy and stressful rutting season.

WILDLIFE AMBASSADOR WORDS OF WISDOM

Join Wildlife Ambassador Derek to look closely at the teeth of a bear, and see what they tell us.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT?

With this warm weather we have been having, please ensure that your yards are free of ALL attractants so that bears do not find anything to eat and subsequently get into trouble! If you have a fruit tree, such as a crabapple (including ornamental crabapples), mountain ash or cherry - picking fruit every year is a lot of work so the recommended long-term solution is to remove your fruit tree. DO YOU WANT FREE MONEY? If you know you have a fruit tree on your property, you may as well get FREE money and save bears by applying for the Town of Canmore’s Fruit Tree Removal and Replacement Incentive NOW! There is still money remaining in the budget this year for the Town of Canmore’s Fruit Tree Removal and Replacement Incentive Program so we urge you to consider removing your fruit tree now while the funds are available! Click here for more details!

Also, remember to pick up after your dogs as their feces can act as an attractant for wildlife. As a pet owner it is YOUR responsibility to pick up and dispose of your pet’s waste properly. Doggy poop bags need to be put in wildlife-proof bins, not left on or alongside the trails!

WILDLIFE IN THE NEWS

4 grizzly bears responsible for killing mother and daughter in B.C. have been killed.
Grief and gratitude: How brothers of B.C. grizzly bear attack victim are processing tragedy.
Call to renew licensed grizzly bear hunting met with pushback from B.C. conservationists.
Documents reveal Banff superintendent was issued verbal warning for off-leash dog.
Polar bears are gathering close to this Canadian town—and co-existing with humans.
Meet the polar bear - the largest, most powerful and deadliest bear on the planet.
Video of bear chilling at the top of a tree proves their elite and frightening climbing skills.
Canada goose rescued in Canmore had avian flu.
Nuisance bear delays winter camping at Bruce Peninsula National Park in Ontario.

AND NOW SOME PAWS-ITIVE NEWS

Not only has the Bison reintroduction in Banff National Park been a success, so has the annual Indigenous-led ceremonial bison hunt, established through Parks Canada’s Indigenous Advisory Circle for Banff National Park. Formed in 2018, the advisory circle brings together representatives from Treaty 7 First Nations, including Bearspaw, Chiniki and Goodstoney, as well as Métis representatives, to help guide Parks Canada on Indigenous priorities and interests within the national park. Under the bison hunt program, each participating Indigenous Nation is permitted to hunt one bison annually, with a maximum of eight animals taken each year.

The successful hunt last month was historic for the Stoney Nakoda Nations, with Bearspaw becoming the first of its three First Nations to successfully hunt a bison through Parks Canada’s Indigenous-led ceremonial harvest program. Before that program began, bison had not been hunted on lands now within Banff National Park since before its establishment in 1885!

For thousands of years, the Stoney Nakoda hunted and travelled through the Rocky Mountains, relying on the land and its wildlife for food, cultural practices and their way of life. An important part of that relationship was with bison, an animal of deep cultural and spiritual significance that provided food, clothing, shelter and materials for everyday life.

The Banff bison population has been described as healthy and thriving, with strong reproductive success and a fast growing population. The ceremonial harvest helps maintain an ecologically sustainable population but also strengthens cultural ties, achieving both ecological and cultural goals. RELATED ARTICLE: Bearspaw First Nation makes history with bison hunt in Banff.

CURRENT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Square Dance Fundraiser - Friday, Nov.13 | Canmore Creekside Hall

Get ready to dance! We're looking for a few more volunteers to help with our Square Dance Fundraiser tomorrow night. Volunteer opportunities include: Serving drinks (must be 18+ and have a ProServe) and silent auction monitoring + tidying up cups, cans, plates etc. Volunteer perk: Sign up for a minimum of two hours and receive a FREE ticket to the event! You're welcome to dance the night away whenever you're not on shift. Click here to sign up to volunteer!

We Need Your Vote! Help Grow ReUse Bow Valley

Our proposal is in the running for Field Law's Community Program Fund. Help us expand ReUse Bow Valley with an expanded, longer-term, dedicated space for furniture and household goods, keeping useful items out of the landfill and making everyday essentials more affordable.

Our current construction materials ReUse Hub has already diverted over 5,000 lbs of materials valued at $12,800! With your vote, we can build on this success and build out our household Reuse Hub. Vote for our project and help make it happen!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Nov.19 - Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure in the Bow Valley Workshops

Is Your Business or Property EV Ready? Join Our Free Workshops on Nov.19, Dec.2 and Jan.21

Note: Nov.19 (10-11am) workshop is ONLINE - click here for the Zoom link to join online.

As electric vehicle (EV) adoption continues to grow, businesses, property managers, and communities need to prepare for increasing demand for charging infrastructure. We are hosting a series of free EV charging infrastructure workshops to help participants better understand EV charging options, electrical requirements, installation considerations, costs, and practical steps for planning and implementing charging infrastructure.

These workshops are designed for business owners, property managers, condo boards, developers, municipal staff, tourism and hospitality operators, and anyone interested in learning more about EV charging. No prior EV knowledge is required! All workshops are FREE, but registration is required. Explore upcoming sessions and reserve your spot through our EV Charging Workshop Registration Page.

Nov.24 - Native Bees of the Mountain National Parks with Dave Prescott

The Bow Valley Naturalists have their second talk of the season on Tuesday Nov.24 at 7:30pm. Dr. Prescott will present interim results of the first comprehensive survey of native bees in Banff, Jasper, Kootenay and Yoho National Parks. The work began in 2024 as a search for species that are listed as endangered, threatened and special concern by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. The project has steadily grown in the past two years, and the results are beginning to paint a picture of the diversity and distribution of native bees in the national parks.

Location: Catharine Robb-Whyte building at 101 Bear Street in Banff. Free, everyone is welcome to attend - in person and once again - online! (registration information still to come)

PHOTO: Melissodes confusus - female. Credit: D. Prescott

Nov.25 - Building Retrofit Training & Coaching for Bow Valley Businesses

Are you a hotel or commercial building owner looking to reduce energy costs, improve building performance, or plan energy-efficient upgrades? The Biosphere Institute, in partnership with Alberta Ecotrust, is offering a free training and coaching program to help local hotel and commercial properties identify energy-saving opportunities, explore building retrofit options, and develop practical plans for future upgrades.

Join Us for an Information & Networking Session! Learn how this program can help you make informed decisions about energy efficiency and building retrofits. Meet the coaching team, ask questions, and connect with other local property owners and operators.

Wednesday, November 25, 2026 from 2:00–4:00 PM at the Canmore Opera House.

REGISTER NOW – FREE INFORMATION SESSION

Can't attend? You can still get involved! Submit an Expression of Interest to learn more about participating in the program.

Nov.25-27 - Join us for the 4th Annual Building for Sustainability Symposium in Canmore for three days of learning, networking, and collaboration as we explore innovative solutions to building more sustainable, resilient communities.

This year's Symposium brings together industry professionals, municipal leaders, researchers, and sustainability experts for inspiring keynote presentations, engaging panel discussions, interactive workshops, and field trips showcasing sustainable building practices across the Bow Valley. Whether you're a builder, developer, designer, policymaker, or simply passionate about sustainability, there's something for everyone! Don't miss out! Click here to explore the program and register today!

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

Bear Report - Nov.12, 2026