Bear Report - Sep.18, 2026

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BEAR ACTIVITY UPDATE (Sep.18, 2026)

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

There continue to be steady reports of black bears in and around Canmore and the Bow Valley, and fruit trees in town seem to be the main attractant, specifically varieties of cherry trees. Do your best to proactively remove wildlife attractants such as fruit trees (or at least the fruit), bird feeders, garbage, pet food and greasy bbq’s so that you don’t draw bears into town and get them into trouble in your yard! 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. RELATED ARTICLE: Canmore cuts down record 230 fruit-bearing trees, shrubs to protect bears.

Bear activity in K-Country has slowed down as the grizzly bears are spending most of their time at higher elevations, which are also the same places that many larch hikers are heading to. Here are three simple reminders for larch hikers: (1) Humans and bears use the same trails. Move out of the way if bears are coming towards you on a trail and give bears space at all times, at least 100 metres (10 school bus lengths); (2) Slow down when driving to/from your larch hike! Bears and other wildlife are often seen feeding and travelling on or near the road. 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; (3) Getting too close to bears, such as in a vehicle or trying to take a picture, unfairly disrupts their behaviour and feeding patterns. During this crucial time before hibernation, they need to eat as many calories as possible - their survival depends on it! Don’t expect bears to move just because you’re making noise, and never try to sneak past a bear on a trail! Making noise can help to reduce surprise encounters, but bears may not want to give up their food sources.

All trails users need to be mentally prepared to encounter a bear while out recreating and a reminder that day-use areas and campsites need to be kept clean, and wildlife attractants need to be properly secured. Several trails and backcountry campgrounds around Lake Minnewanka have been closed after black bears displayed food-seeking behaviour in the area: (Area Closure: Lake Minnewanka Trail, Aylmer Pass Trail, and Campgrounds: Lm8, Lm9, Lm11, Lm20, Lm22, Lm31).

Fruit Trees: 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. Letting a bear access these higher calorie items such as crabapples 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 (it endangers you, your children, your pets, and your neighbours) 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.

We all need to work together to stop encouraging bears to come into town and residents need to step up and start having friendly conversations (not confrontations) with friends, family and neighbours with fruit trees in their yards about the importance of removing fruit to keep people and bears safe in the Bow Valley! Some key points to discuss are:

  1. Remove your fruit trees or their fruit - otherwise, you may face steep fines and be responsible for killing a bear.

  2. There are still funds available for the Town of Canmore’s Fruit Tree Removal and Replacement Incentive Programs so take advantage NOW before the money runs out AND before you attract a bear into town and/or get a large fine!

  3. If you want to help save bears, report all sightings of bears in town to 403-591-7755.

 

Female grizzly bear with her cubs down near Elbow Lake in K-Country on Sep.22, 2024.

 

With elk rutting season in full swing, bull elk aggression has picked up over the past week and you may hear some loud bugling in and around Canmore! Male elk are particularly protective of the female elk they are with and they may become aggressive towards anything that comes too close, even trucks (see the picture below and read this article from 2018). The best way to keep them at ease is to stay at least 100m away - which is ten school bus lengths - NEVER TRY TO SNEAK PAST THEM and never get between a male elk and the female elk.

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. 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. 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 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!

 

Four holes made by a charging bull elk when this truck was stopped at a traffic light in Jasper National Park (2018). Photo courtesy of Parks Canada.

 

Hunting Season is open and many techniques used by hunters make it more hazardous for them in bear country because they intentionally do not make noise and they rarely travel in groups. Hunters need to make a compromise between hunting success and safety in bear country – that means always carrying bear spray in an easily accessible location and knowing how to use it. Bear spray can save the life of the hunter AND the bear(s).

VIEW CURRENT WARNINGS AND CLOSURES

Bear Warning - Fish Creek Provincial Park due to several reports and sightings of a black bear during daylight/peak hours within the park.

SOME THINGS TO ‘BEAR’ IN MIND

There are many outdoor enthusiasts who are doing sunrise hikes, which is also when wildlife are very active! Before making plans, it would be nice for people to consider what is best for the wildlife. Bears continue to feed in order to gain as much weight as possible for the upcoming winter so allowing them to feed undisturbed by giving them lots of space is a great example of human-wildlife coexistence. With the busy Larch season starting soon, bears will be doing their best to escape the hoards of people out on the trails, so please consider leaving those times (like dawn and dusk) for bears and other wildlife. Be extra vigilant if you are wandering off-trail to avoid the crowds - as bears need somewhere to go to avoid the people. Consisder staying on designated and popular trails and leaving space for bears. That is what coexistence is all about!

You can also do your part by staying out of closed areas, avoiding areas where bears have been seen, or where active warnings are in place, making lots of noise to alert bears of your presence, travelling in groups, keeping pets on a leash at all times, being aware of your surroundings by looking for fresh scat & tracks and not wearing earbuds & headphones. Always carry bear spray in an easily accessible location (not your backpack) and know how to use it!

 
 

Managing wildlife attractants: Do not leave garbage out on the trails, in parks or day use areas, and do not leave any food unattended - even for a minute. If you plan on doing some camping, remember to keep your campsite clean and garbage free! Make sure that bear attractants such as garbage, food and scented items are secured in your vehicle, hard-sided trailer or bear-proof lockers. Never leave food and scented items in tents as bears can easily access them and always dispose of garbage in bear-proof bins. Take out food only as you need it. This way, you can avoid having too much food out at any one time. If a bear (or any wildlife) approaches your picnic table and food, yell and shout to try to scare the bear away, do your best to secure your food, and use your bear spray to prevent the bear from getting that food reward. It is crucial that you do your best to make sure bears do not get any food rewards as it could result in bears getting relocated or killed. RELATED ARTICLE: Black bears seeking food shut down two Banff trails, campgrounds.

WILDLIFE AMBASSADOR WORDS OF WISDOM

Wildlife Ambassador Derek is back with a short video explaining why you should report ALL bear sightings in the Bow Valley & Kananaskis regions.

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. If you want to help save bears, report all sightings of bears in town! ***Please share this message with your friends, family, and neighbours!***

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!

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 19 - Exshaw Community Hall (12-3pm) and Fish Creek PP in Calgary (12-4pm).
September 20 - artsPlace Community Market in Canmore (10am-4pm).

FOOD FOR THOUGHT?

ATTENTION CANMORE RESIDENTS:

As mentioned earlier, there is lots of visible fruit on trees in town, specifically chokecherry and pin cherry, that is attracting black bears into Canmore! 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. The best practice is to remove fruit bearing trees and shrubs from your yard, however if you decide to keep your fruit bearing trees and shrubs, ensure the fruit is removed ASAP!

Did you Know? As per the Community Standards Bylaw in Canmore, 55.1- No Person or Owner shall permit or allow a Wildlife Attractant to be placed or remain in an outdoor location where it attracts Dangerous Wildlife. This means that if a bear is found feeding in your fruit tree, the first offence would be $1,000! 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.

Picking fruit every year is a lot of work so the recommended long-term solution is to remove your fruit tree! If you decide to remove and replace your fruit tree (recommended), there are still funds available for the Town of Canmore’s Fruit Tree Removal and Replacement Incentive Programs so take advantage NOW before the money runs out AND before you attract a bear into town and/or get a large fine! Applications are still open while limited funds are available so click here to apply now!

For those residents who are hesitant to remove their fruit trees, bears that get into fruit trees can cause extensive damage to the trees with the end result of the tree dying and often having to be replaced anyways.

WildSmart has pruning shears and 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.

IMPORTANT: If you take down your own tree, you need to remove the fruit and berries and put them in the residential food waste bins around town. The branches with the fruit removed can go to the Boulder Crescent Recycling Depot. The Town of Canmore is not is not able to dispose of the bins at the Boulder Crescent Depot when there are berries and fruit in the bins, as the landfill will not accept them!

 

Black bear feeding in a Mountain Ash tree in Canmore (archived photo).

 

WILDLIFE IN THE NEWS

AND NOW SOME PAWS-ITIVE NEWS

Fat Bear Week in Alaska is an annual celebration of the beefy, brown and bristly bears as they fatten up for their long winter slumber. Some of the largest brown bears on Earth make their home at Brooks River in Katmai National Park, Alaska. Bears get fat to survive and Fat Bear Week is an annual tournament celebrating their success in preparation for winter hibernation. This year it runs from September 22-29 and your vote decides who is the fattest of the fat. Voting begins Tuesday September 22 at 10am MDT!

All votes are cast at fatbearweek.org (between 10am-7pm MDT daily) in this March-madness style bracket competition in which bears compete daily in head-to-head matchups for the title of 2026 Fat Bear Week Champion. Click here to meet the Bears! This is a single elimination tournament. For each match-up, vote for the bear you believe best exemplifies fatness. The bear with the most votes advances to the next round. Only one will be crowned champion of Fat Bear Week on Sep.29, 2026. Learn more about the history of Fat Bear Week here.

Brooks Falls in Alaska's Katmai National Park is the best place in the world to watch brown bears feasting on salmon as they swim upstream to spawn. Watch the live webcam by clicking here.

UPCOMING EVENTS

  • Sep.19 - Bear Smart Community Day in Fish Creek Provincial Park in Calgary from 12-4pm. This FREE family friendly public event will have a variety of presentations on bears & wildlife awareness, interactive displays, kids activities and crafts, experiential bear encounter hikes and much more! Our Wildlife Ambassadors will also be there with their hands-on interactive booth. Come on by, learn how to use bear spray and chat with them about responsible trail use, managing wildlife attractants, and how we can all work together to improve human-wildlife coexistence. Click here for more info!

 
 

  • Sep.19 - Harvest Carnival in Exshaw from 11am-4pm. WildSmart and our Wildlife Ambassadors will also be there with their hands-on interactive booth from 12-4pm. Come on by, learn how to use bear spray and chat with them about responsible trail use, managing wildlife attractants, and how we can all work together to improve human-wildlife coexistence.

 
 

  • Oct.1 - Friends of Kananaskis Country Speaker Series. In celebration of the Friends of Kananaskis Country’s 30th anniversary they are bringing back the Speaker Series. To kick it off, they are excited to host Dr. Melanie Dickie, a caribou ecologist who studies how habitat disturbance and climate change interact to shape wildlife communities. Her research focuses on the relationships between caribou, their predators, and their prey, and on understanding how changes to the landscape can alter these relationships and contribute to caribou declines. The underlying concepts regarding caribou are relevant to landscapes such as Kananaskis, where people and wildlife increasingly share space. Join the Friends of Kananaskis Country and Dr. Melanie Dickie on October 1, from 7-9:30 pm at City and Country Winery in Calgary. Complimentary appetizers and a glass of wine will be provided to attendees. Tickets are free, though donations at the door are welcomed and appreciated. Click here for a tickets now!

 
 
RSVP to save your spot!

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.25-27 - Registration is now open for the 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. Whether you work directly in the building industry or are interested in how our communities can build better, we invite you to be part of the conversation. Registration is now 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

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