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!
The information below is based upon a compilation of bear information provided by government agencies and unconfirmed sightings reported by the public over the last week. It is not intended to be used as a real-time, complete record of where bears are in the valley.
BEAR ACTIVITY UPDATE (May 15, 2025)
(Banff National Park East Gate to Bow Valley Provincial Park)
Bears continue to be seen along trails, roads and in residential neighbourhoods on both sides of the valley in Canmore, as well as throughout the Bow Valley and Kananaskis Country. Even mother bears with young cubs have been seen in residential areas, on trails and by the roadside. Mother bears are very protective of their young, and with large males out and about, these mothers will be on high alert. It is crucial to give these families of bears plenty of space to move about and feed undisturbed. Stay at least 100m (10 bus lengths) away at all times! The Friends of Kananaskis Country have some great Tips for Roadside Wildlife Viewing for motorists and cyclists.
The upcoming long weekend will bring more people into the Mountain Parks than bears have been accustomed to in recent weeks. As a result, there will likely be a spike in bear sightings and we all need to do our part to help keep people and wildlife safe! That includes properly securing wildlife attractants at campsites and day use areas. Garbage, food and scented items need to be stored inside a vehicle, hard sided trailer or bear lockers.
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!
You may have seen viral footage of a hiker backing away slowly from a grizzly bear in Banff National Park. It was a well handled encounter but remember that most of the time we are simply in the way, as bears choose to walk along trails, just like we do. When a bear is walking down a trail towards you, if safe to do so, try moving off the trail to let the bear walk past, but always have your bear spray out and ready just in case the bear decides to turn and follow you.
Mama grizzly bear with three cubs near Lower Kananaskis Lake on May 10, 2025. Photo courtesy of Michelle Hoogveld.
Numerous elk continue to be seen in and around Canmore, and with elk calving season underway, people are reminded never to approach elk for any reason! Mother elk can become very protective of their calves, aggressively kicking or charging if they feel threatened. The best way to keep them at ease is to stay at least 30m away - which is three school bus lengths, and NEVER try to sneak past them!
Photo of an elk grazing near the busy boardwalk in Canmore.
VIEW CURRENT WARNINGS AND CLOSURES
Bear Closure - Rockwall Trail and Peter Lougheed Discovery Centre and Meadow Area due to multiple bears frequenting the area.
A Bear Warning was issued for the Kananaskis Country Golf Course including parking lots, Club House, maintenance compound, and other buildings due to multiple grizzly and black bears frequenting the area.
You can also submit your report using the Report-A-Poacher Online form or contact your local district Fish and Wildlife office.
SOME THINGS TO ‘BEAR’ IN MIND
The green grass and dandelions along the highways are drawing all kinds of wildlife to the roadside as this is their springtime food. Remember to obey speed limits and slow down when passing wildlife, but don’t stop, and always stay in your vehicle. Give bears at least 100m of space at all times! Roadside vegetation is some of the first to green up at this time of the year and fulfills important habitat needs for bears. Other animals like elk, deer and sheep rely on this same early season green up which means a higher risk for vehicle collisions with wildlife. If you see one animal, be prepared to see more and adjust your speed accordingly. Travel safely and help protect our wildlife (and yourselves) by slowing down, especially during dawn, dusk and night.
Ever wonder what black bears do in May? Learn all about it from our friends at BearWise south of the border. “May at a Glance: All bears visit all the places where they reliably found food last year. Cubs learn how to climb up (and down) trees, and learn to “talk.” Cubs are still nursing, but start experimenting with bear food. Mother bears sometimes leave the youngsters alone and travel up to two miles to search for food. Cubs that are alone aren’t usually orphaned or abandoned.” Click here to read the full article about “What bears do in May!”
Ever wonder what a yearling grizzly bear’s scat looks like….well here it is! This scat was left behind by the cub on the left in the above photo. Photo courtesy of Michelle Hoogveld, taken on May 10, 2025.
WILDLIFE AMBASSADOR WORDS OF WISDOM
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! Keep them moving along by ensuring your campsites and yards are free of attractants such as food, garbage, pet food, greasy bbq’s and bird feeders. Here are some great tips from Wildlife Ambassador Karen…
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: the locations they are stationed at may change at the last minute. This weekend they will be at:
May 17 - Upper Kananaskis Lake and West Bragg Creek and on May 19 - Troll Falls
FOOD FOR THOUGHT?
Some things are out of our control, but with the long weekend coming up, properly securing your food and garbage is something you can control!
Never feed any wildlife and never leave food unattended, even for a minute!
If you see garbage on the ground, help out by picking it up and putting it in a bin.
If a garbage bin is full, take your garbage to another bin, or take it home with you! DO NOT leave it on the ground where it is accessible for wildlife!
A fed bear is a dead bear and one lazy act could cost a bear its life! In Canmore, if you notice any garbage left outside of bear proof bins, or garbage bins that are full around town, please report this to the Town of Canmore at 403-678-1580.
WILDLIFE IN THE NEWS
Bear tranquilized after wandering streets just east of Regina’s downtown.
A grizzly encounter turned cautionary tale in Banff National Park.
No grizzly bears killed under Alberta's wildlife responder program – yet.
Residents west of Calgary on high alert after multiple cougar sightings.
Hiking or trail running this summer? How to prevent conflicts with cougars in Utah.
Banff-Kananaskis MLA, Alberta Parks minister battle over wildlife management.
Calls for wildlife reform grow after orphaned bear cub tragedy in Whistler, B.C.
Two yearling grizzly bears killed by larger bear in Grand Teton National Park.
Grizzly bear mistakenly shot, killed by hunter in North Idaho.
Bear sighting: Here's what to do if it happens to you.
Polar bear celebrates 12th birthday with special treat in Cochrane, Ontario.
AND NOW SOME PAWS-ITIVE NEWS
We are excited to welcome our new Wildlife Ambassadors to our program this year! The annual volunteer training happened last weekend and their friendly smiling faces, informative conversations and compelling stories to try and improve human-wildlife coexistence were inspiring! On behalf of the two and four-legged creatures who call this valley home, we thank you for your hard work and dedication to keep people and wildlife safe. This year the Wildlife Ambassadors will continue increasing their presence in Banff and the West Bragg Creek area, with the hopes of bringing consistent and reliable wildlife safety messaging to these heavily used recreation areas.
In case you have not seen them yet, our amazing Volunteer Wildlife Ambassadors have been heading out onto trails and trailheads to talk to people about responsible trail use and staying safe while recreating in bear country. Keep an eye out for the Wildlife Ambassadors next time you are out on the trails in the Bow Valley, K-Country and West Bragg Creek area, and be sure to say ‘hi’ and have a chat with them!
A photo from our Wildlife Ambassador training session last Saturday, May 10, 2025.
Volunteer at our Casino Fundraiser!
Our organization has a wonderful opportunity to raise significant funds to support our fabulous programs! Many thanks to those who have already signed up for a shift at our Casino Fundraiser! We still have 8 volunteer spots to fill, and we’d love for you — and maybe a partner, friend, or adult family member — to join us. Click here to learn more about the roles available. The casino will be held on Thursday May 29 and Friday May 30 at the ACE Casino Blackfoot in Calgary.
What’s in it for you?
All volunteers receive free accommodation at the lovely Hotel Blackfoot, plus meals and travel costs are covered! It’s a great way to support a local cause, meet like-minded people, and enjoy a night or two away — all while making a real difference.
No experience is needed — just a willingness to help out and we’ll provide everything you need. Shifts are available during the day, evening, and early morning, and you’re welcome to sign up for more than one shift (as long as it's for the same role).
Ready to sign up? Just click the link below to see available shifts! Thank you for considering this opportunity to support local environmental action — we truly couldn’t do it without you!
UPCOMING EVENTS
Join the Town of Banff and Parks Canada in an online interactive Bear Aware session that will have you learning how to be safe in bear country. The 60-minute webinar will be led by two Parks Canada wildlife specialists and includes a presentation on how to identify different types of bears, common bear behaviours and tools and tips to prevent bear encounters. This FREE online session is on Wednesday, May 21 from 7-8pm. Click here to register online!
Join hosts Alberta Equestrian Federation and the Bow Valley Riding Association for their Third Annual 'Share the Trails' event on Saturday, May 31, 2025 from 10am-2pm at the Cougar Creek parking lot in Canmore!
Local outdoor recreation organizations will be on site for informal conversations on how we can collectively enjoy Alberta's public trails. Let's collaborate on how to safely, responsibly, and sustainably share the area with the wildlife in the fragile corridor at Indian Flats. Whether you're on horseback, two wheels, with hiking poles, or walking your furry friend, you’ll find information at this Share the Trails event. Alongside the volunteer Wildlife Ambassadors, WildSmart will be there with a booth and we look forward to chatting with you!
We invite you to the Jam for Jasper, a fundraiser with Digital Hobo and the Climate Changers in partnership with the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley and the Fairmont Banff Springs!
The evening will include a combination of music, education, and stories about wildfire resilience from wildfire refugee Ryan Bray, Banff Fire Chief Keri Martens, and MLA Sara Elmeligi.
May 31, 2025 from 7-10pm at the Banff Springs Hotel - Conference Centre Theatre
Tickets sold on a sliding scale from $20-$100. Click here for tickets!
Funds raised will be used to help us learn from the Jasper experience – and plan accordingly.
May 31 - Green Buildings Open House
Join us for the 2025 Green Buildings Open House on Saturday, May 31 from 11am to 4pm, and explore homes and businesses across the Bow Valley that are leading the way in sustainable, high-performance design. This self-guided tour offers a unique chance to meet the people behind these inspiring spaces and learn firsthand about renewable energy, water-saving systems, and climate-resilient upgrades. Click here for full details and map.
Visit 3+ properties to be entered to win great local prizes—and double your entries if you walk or bike! Don’t miss special options like the Spring Creek Staff Accommodation tour (registration required) or the Community Cruisers bike tour with a Canmore Brewing Co. perk.
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 Emergency Services at 403.591.7755