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BEAR ACTIVITY UPDATE (Oct.15, 2026)
(Banff National Park East Gate to Bow Valley Provincial Park)
For the most part, bear activity has been relatively quite in the Bow Valley and Kananaskis Country this past week, with no new warnings or closures being put in place. That being said, people should be not be getting complacent as bears continue to be out on the landscape on a constant search for food to fatten up for their winter hibernation. Off-leash dogs have been in the news almost daily, as an off-leash dog recently killed a mule deer near the engine bridge in Canmore (more on that below).
Bears need a healthy fat layer before they go into their deep sleep; it helps them to stay warm and provides calories to survive the winter. 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 campers and day users to make sure NO attractants are left unattended that could attract bears. Remote camera and collar data have shown that some males like to stay out on the landscape into mid-December. With this in mind, it’s important that everyone remains vigilant and mentally prepared for possible encounters with bears and other wildlife, all of which are still active in the Bow Valley and K-Country!
If there are bears feeding or walking along trails, give them their space (at least 100m), back away, leave the area, don't try and sneak past them and don’t expect bears to move off a food source for you. Bears can be very protective of their food and may exert their dominance if you get too close. Trail users need to be prepared by carrying bear spray but also need to respect the bears and give them space to move around and feed undisturbed. 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.
Reminder to residents: REMOVE AND SECURE ATTRACTANTS to keep you and your neighbourhood safe! If you don't want a bear in your yard or to get it relocated or killed, make sure you don't provide it with a meal! Remove or secure ALL wildlife attractants such as fruit (on trees and on the ground), PUMPKINS, bird feeders, unsecured garbage, greasy bbq's and pet food - 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 and download the Community Standards Bylaw here.
SLOW DOWN: Motorists need to slow down when passing wildlife roadside, obey speed limits and be extra alert (especially at dawn and dusk) as the days are getting shorter and the number of darkness hours are increasing. Remember to always stay in your vehicle and give bears at least 100m of space at all times! Check out the Friends of Kananaskis Country’s Tips for Roadside Wildlife Viewing here.
Female grizzly bear with her cubs down near Elbow Pass Day Use Area in K-Country on Sep.22, 2024.
Elk continue to be seen and heard bugling 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. Male elk are particularly protective of any female elk they are with, and there continue to be reports of large rutting bull elk showing aggression towards people getting too close trying to take pictures or trying to sneak past them on the trails. The best way to keep them at ease is to give plenty of space to ALL ELK by staying at least 100m away - which is 10 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, position a large object (e.g. car, large tree) between you and the elk or consider using your bear spray. Never approach elk up close as they are wild animals that can react unpredictably! RELATED: Here are some great photos and videos of elk during the rut season.
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).
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!
SOME THINGS TO ‘BEAR’ IN MIND
Off-leash dogs have certainly been in the news this past week as per the following articles:
Alberta Parks charges owner of off-leash dog that killed deer in Canmore with 'multiple offences'.
Off-Leash Dog Kills Deer In Canmore, Councillor Pushes For Zero-Tolerance Policy.
National park wardens reopen investigation into Banff superintendent over off-leash dog.
As mentioned earlier and discussed in the relevant articles above, an off-leash dog recently killed a male mule deer near the engine bridge in Canmore. This is another unfortunate incident that could easily have been prevented. Owning a dog comes with certain responsibilities that should not be taken lightly, and here are some key points to remember for dog owners:
No matter how well-trained you think your dog is - you never know how they will react to wildife. Leashes save lives and it is the law!
Being a good neighbour involves also thinking about others and what is best for them, and that includes the wildlife. That is what human-wildlife coexistence is all about. We all need to make sacrifices, and having your dog off-leash is dangerous for you, your dog, other dogs, other people and wildife. Separate from it being the law and there being fines involved, having your dog on a leash is being a good neighbour and thinking of others, not only yourself and your dog.
If your off-leash dogs attacks or scares another person, especially a child, it can cause injury and a permanent “fear of dogs” that can affect them for the rest of their life. This is not fair to those people and many off-leash dog walkers have probably not thought about the potential long-term consequences of their actions.
Using the excuse, “I need to let my dog run off-leash because it needs the exercise” is not good enough. It is your responsibility to exercise your dog in a safe manner with consideration for others, and that includes the local wildlife. If you are too lazy or unable to properly exercise your dog yourself, find someone that can take your dog out for a run or bike on-leash, or at least take them to a designated off-leash dog park.
During certain times if the year, wildlife are more vulnerable to attack by off-leash dogs. In this case, it could have been an exhausted mule deer that didn’t stand a chance against this off-leash dog. This attack happened towards the end of the fall rut, which is a very vulnerable time for male ungulates (like elk and deer). During the rut, males expend considerable energy fighting off rival males for their right to mate with females, leaving little time to eat or rest. They are constantly on high-alert and towards the end of the rut, they don’t have enough energy to outrun or defend themselves when attacked by predators and off-leash dogs.
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!
Final thought: KEEP DOGS ON-LEASH as it could save your life, your dog’s life and wildlife’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.
Off-leash dogs continue to be a big problem in the Bow Valley and we are constantly looking for new and creative ways to reach those folks. Here is a great sign from Whistler B.C. using a different approach that might resonate better with some of our local off-leash dog walkers.
Another approach to getting people to keep their dogs on-leash. Signage from Whistler B.C.
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 Ground Squirrels.
It’s the time of year when the diets of Grizzly and Black bears have diverged. Grizzlies started moving out of the valleys and into the alpine weeks ago. Black bears find slightly higher elevations but den much lower than their grizzly counterparts. By this time next month, half of the grizzlies and virtually all of the black bears will be in dens (and the ski season will have started, even though this week doesn’t feel like it).
Black bears’ thoughts in October turn to grasses and insects. In October 2020, I was doing a Wildlife Ambassador rove in Riverside Park in downtown Canmore and found a great big pile of bear scat. It was nothing but the lush green grass growing in the park. Bears are smart and always are eating the best thing available. One of our wildlife coexistence challenges in the Canmore area is that we plant and lovingly tend to good ‘ole grass in our parks, which is demonstrably a wildlife attractant. Riverside had bear poop, deer poop and elk poop in it – and a herd of elk napping in the trees nearby on a busy Sunday. And we all know how many bears have been removed from town because of fruit trees and other attractants. Grizzlies, on the other hand, take advantage of their high alpine denning areas to target the perfect bedtime snack: ground squirrels and marmots…Click here to read Derek’s full article about Ground Squirrels!
Click on this image of Squirrels 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.
October 17 - Troll Falls
FOOD FOR THOUGHT?
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 and eating pumpkins. Letting a bear access these higher calorie items 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. NOTE: Just because you have never had a bear in your fruit tree before, it does not mean it can’t or won’t happen. Even ornamental fruit trees (that typically do not attract bears) can and will attract bears.
Remove all fruit from branches and dispose of it responsibly. Picked fruit can be put in the residential food waste bins around town. Leaves, branches and clippings can be disposed of separately in the appropriate bins at the 115 Boulder Crescent Recycling Depot.
Need help removing the fruit? 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 that hard to reach fruit. Please send an email to resource@biosphereinstitute.org to make arrangements to borrow the fruit removal equipment.
Get FREE money and apply for the Town of Canmore’s Fruit Tree Removal and Replacement Incentive NOW: Picking fruit every year is a lot of work so the recommended long-term solution is to remove your fruit tree! There is still plenty of 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! These programs are first-come first-served while funds are available. Click here for more details!
Halloween is around the corner so be proactive and remember to keep pumpkins inside of windows and NOT outside on your doorstep. Pumpkins are a wildlife attractant to all sorts of animals, not just bears and we all need to do our best to avoid attracting wildlife into residential areas. You might think that your pumpkin is safe on a balcony, far off the ground, but bears are very good climbers. Check out this video of an ingenious bear climbing up onto a balcony.
Pumpkins placed inside your windows can still be enjoyed by trick-or-treaters!
WILDLIFE IN THE NEWS
Hikers deploy bear spray in close encounters with bold grizzly in Banff National Park.
Multiple grizzly bear poaching incidents under investigation in Alberta.
Alberta says grizzly bear numbers are growing, but what about the Bow Valley?
Surviving a brown bear attack: How an Anchorage runner made it 7 miles back to safety.
Bear wanders into Alaska hospital at 2 am, raids Halloween candy.
Conservation Officers warn of 'significant increase' in bear activity and conflicts in Whistler.
Parks Canada Has Discussed Killing Banff’s Most Famous Grizzly, Internal Emails Reveal.
Curious Bear Cub Nibbles Photographer’s Boot During Close Encounter in Alaska (Exclusive).
CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES
Join our Board of Directors!
We seek new board members with a passion for our community and our environment. We are particularly interested in candidates who have experience in any of the following areas:
non-profit governance and management
financial management
fund development in the non-profit sector (philanthropy)
serving in executive positions on boards
Please click here for more information and how to apply. Deadline for applications is Oct.30.
AND NOW SOME PAWS-ITIVE NEWS
We would like to welcome Racquel (she/her) to the Biosphere team as the Environmental Educator and Future Leaders Program Coordinator while the fabulous Heidi is on maternity leave. She will be creating and delivering K-12 curriculum-connected environmental education programs throughout the Bow Valley and facilitating the Future Leaders program.
Racquel is of settler descent with Acadian roots and lives in Treaty 7 territory. As a natural storyteller and lover of the arts, she received her B.A. in Drama from the University of Alberta, where her passion for creative expression began to merge with her growing interest in environmental topics. After a transformational summer working with Alberta Parks as an Interpreter, Racquel discovered a deep love for using artistic approaches to teach ecological science. Her passion for teaching has guided her through more than seven years as an environmental educator, during which she received a Bronze Medal Interpretation Canada Award and was a Calgary White Hat Award finalist for her work. Racquel went on to earn her M.A. in Environmental Education and Communication at Royal Roads University, where she explored how intentional time in nature can help us reconnect with the Earth, one another, and ourselves. Racquel’s work focuses on creating learning experiences that help individuals cultivate authentic, emotional, and embodied relationships with the natural world.
Meet Racquel, who will be our Environmental Educator and Future Leaders Program Coordinator while Heidi is on maternity leave.
Calling all youth of the Bow Valley! Check out The Biosphere Institute’s Future Leaders Youth Council for students in Grades 9-12 in Canmore and the Future Leaders Junior Youth Council for students in Grades 5-8 in Banff. Click here for more info!
Youth Council: Grades 9-12 in Canmore.
Junior Youth Council: Grades 5-8 in Banff.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Oct.19 - Earth Talks | Plugging In: Understanding EV Charging in the Bow Valley
Curious about EV charging? Learn how it works, what your options are, and what to consider at home in the Bow Valley and on the go. Join the Biosphere Institute, the Canmore Public Library and Edmund Ong for an Earth Talk on the topic of electric vehicle charging. FREE to attend, 7-8pm at the Canmore Public Library. Click here to RSVP and save your spot!Oct.27 - The Bow Valley Naturalists have their first talk of the season on Oct.27 about caribou recovery in Alberta and British Columbia. Rob Serrouya, whose research focuses on testing recovery options for caribou and other species through broad-scale adaptive management experiments, will deliver the presentation, which kicks off at 7:30 p.m. at the Catharine Robb-Whyte building at 101 Bear Street in Banff. RELATED ARTICLE: Caribou recovery focus of Bow Valley Naturalists' talk in Banff.
Nov.13, 2026 - Do-Si-Do with the Biosphere at our Fourth Annual Square Dance Community Fundraiser! Join us for a boot-stompin’ night of live music, square dancing, good company, light snacks, a silent auction, and plenty of laughs. No square dance experience needed—our fantastic caller will teach you every step!
When: Friday, November 13, 2026
Where: Canmore Creekside Hall (New Location!!!)
Tickets: Click here to buy your ticket now!Silent auction, cash bar, dancing, 50/50 and light snacks! All proceeds support the Biosphere Institute and our work advancing climate action and human-wildlife coexistence throughout the Bow Valley. Bring your friends, bring your boots, and come dance for a good cause.
Nov.23 - Earth Talks: Mountain Meadows & Why They Matter for People and Wildlife
Join us for an engaging exploration of the mountain meadows right here in our backyard across the Bow Valley presented by local expert, Johnathan Farr. Attendees will learn what makes mountain meadows unique, how wildlife depend on them, and how fire management, climate change, and community science are shaping their future across the Bow Valley. FREE to attend or by donation - Registration is required, 7-8pm at the Canmore Public Library (Friends Program Room). Click here to register and save your spot!
Nov.25-27 - 2026 Building for Sustainability Symposium! Join us in Canmore for three days of learning, connection, and practical conversations about the future of the built environment. This year’s Symposium explores the themes of Innovation | Collaboration | Small Changes, Big Impacts, bringing together builders, developers, architects, engineers, municipal leaders, sustainability professionals, and others working to create more resilient, efficient, and sustainable communities. The program will feature engaging workshops and panel discussions, technical demonstrations, inspiring speakers, networking opportunities, and field trips showcasing real-world projects throughout the Bow Valley.
Registration is open. Explore the program and reserve your spot NOW!
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