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!
BEAR ACTIVITY UPDATE (Oct.2, 2025)
(Banff National Park East Gate to Bow Valley Provincial Park)
This past week has been somewhat quiet for bears in the Bow Valley and Kananaskis Country but that does not mean people should be getting complacent! Bears continue to be on a constant search for food for the next six weeks to fatten up for their winter hibernation, but that food should not be coming from town and peoples’ yards. With the upcoming weekend and nice weather forecast, the trails and day use areas will likely be very busy with visitors. 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 Kananaskis Country!
If there are bears feeding 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. We need to do our part and and give them that peace and quiet to feed undisturbed.
A Bear Closure was put in place at the Mount Shark Trails surrounding the Watridge Lake Trail from Mt. Shark parking lot to Banff NP boundary due to several reports of a close encounter with a grizzly bear. IMPORTANT: Through traffic should have a minimum group size of 4, carry bear spray and know how to use it!
A Bear Warning was put in place for Arnica Lake/ Vista Lake/ Twin Lakes/ Gibbon Pass, Shadow Lake and all trails within this area including backcountry campgrounds: Re6, Re14, Re16, Re21 and Tw7 due to an adult grizzly bear that is frequenting the area with reported close encounters with visitors. BE ON THE LOOKOUT for a grizzly bear with a lower jaw/muzzle deformity from a past injury. Trails in this area are popular for larch viewing this time of year so always be alert. The warning area is south of HWY 93S and does not include Boom Lake. Read this related article - 'Multiple encounters' with grizzly bear prompt warning in Banff National Park.
Bow Valley residents need to be aware of and concerned that attractants such as fruit trees pose a safety risk to people and the survival of bears! Coexisting with wildlife in the Bow Valley means removing fruit BEFORE it is ripe, and the best long-term solution is to remove the fruit tree and replace it with a non-fruit-bearing alternative. Consider having some friendly conversations (not confrontations) with your neighbours and fellow residents about the importance of removing fruit to keep people and bears safe in the Bow Valley! You can also help keep bears alive by securing and removing other wildlife attractants around your home such as taking down birdfeeders, storing pet food inside, cleaning your bbq and ensuring garbage is secured.
Archive photo - black bear in a yard in Canmore. Photo by Lisanne Mol.
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!
We are in the elk rutting season and people need to give elk lots of space! Below is a fun little video about the elk dating scene in the Bow Valley…
Some key reminders: Male elk will act aggressive towards anything that comes too close. 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.
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. 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!
SOME THINGS TO ‘BEAR’ IN MIND
Larch Viewing: Got your heart set on seeing larches in the fall? There are a lot of them around! Click here to read what the Friends of Kananaskis Country recommends! They also have an extensive list of trails, none of which are at the Highwood Pass, where you can see Lyall’s Larches. All of these trails will be less busy than the Highwood Pass!
Here are three simple reminders for larch hikers:
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).
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.
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!
FYI - The Highwood Pass and Arethusa Cirque parking areas were ridiculously busy last weekend with people parallel parking on the highway and lots overflowing. Check out this video - YIKES!
An example of how busy it gets during Larch season down in the Highwood Pass area in K-Country!
WILDLIFE AMBASSADOR WORDS OF WISDOM
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 Digs.
It’s larch season, and that means throngs of people are going to head up to the high alpine. That’s exactly where grizzlies are at this time of year, too. There are a couple of things that grizzlies chow down on up in the alpine before they go to bed, and almost all of them are dug up. Accordingly, something to keep your eye out for on your larch explorations are Grizzly Bear digs.
Many of the plants bears eat grow in patches. If bears are digging for roots or bulbs, such as those of the Glacier Lily, you’re going to find a large area that looks like it’s been attacked by a rototiller. When I say “large”, it could be as much as 15 m by 15 m, so it’s really hard to miss. The first photo was taken in the Highwood Pass area. Note that, whatever was being dug up, it is above treeline and right near the start of scree. This kind of mess is very common in these locations. Click here to read Derek’s full article about Digs!
Click on this image of a dig 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 4 - ‘Star Night’ from 7-10pm at Fish Creek Provincial Park.
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. Letting a bear access these higher calorie items such as crabapples and mountain ash 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.
Canmore Residents: 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 and download the Community Standards Bylaw here.
We need your help to ensure the safety of both people and bears:
Don’t know where to put the picked fruit? Remove all fruit from branches. 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 115 Boulder Crescent Recycling Depot. Please note that they do not accept branches with fruit, as they attract wildlife.
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.
Apply for the Town of Canmore’s Fruit Tree Removal and Replacement Incentive: 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! Get up to $500 per property for removing fruit trees. Condos or commercial properties that remove 5 or more trees may be eligible for up to $1,000. The same reimbursement amounts are available for fruit tree replacement. These programs are first-come first-served while funds are available. Click here for more details!
Archived photo of a grizzly bear feasting on crabapples in Quesnel, B.C. Courtesy of Julie Dorge (@juliedorgephotography).
WILDLIFE IN THE NEWS
Calgary Zoo takes in two grizzly bear cubs after mother shot in self-defence.
Wolverine numbers in Banff, Yoho, Kootenay NP’s declined by nearly half in last decade.
Banff's former head of resource conservation takes on Y2Y role.
B.C. wildlife expert has tips on animal attractants as winter nears.
2 Texada residents charged with killing island’s lone grizzly bear in July.
Coyote pack chases bear out of Walmart parking lot in Port Coquitlam, B.C.
Battle to save Lake Tahoe mama bear from being euthanized continues.
Man recounts seeing polar bear and black bear fight in Labrador.
Elder grizzly bear slated to be euthanized at Calgary Zoo/Wilder Institute.
AND NOW SOME PAWS-ITIVE NEWS
The winner of Fat Bear Week 2025 is 32 “Chunk”. Chunk is a large adult male with narrowly-set eyes, dark brown fur, and a prominent brow ridge. He has a distinctive scar across his muzzle and a broken, yet healing jaw. Scarred and broken-jawed, '32 Chunk' is 2025's 'Fat Bear Week' winner.
Chunk has experienced the benefits that come with large body size and dominance in brown bears. As a very large, perhaps 1,200-pound-plus bear, Chunk uses his size and confidence to his advantage. Bears that are unwary or unlucky often find themselves under threat when he is nearby, yet even bears as large as Chunk face challenge and hardship.
Chunk returned to Brooks River in June 2025 with a freshly broken jaw. The timing of the injury during the brown bear mating season and the nature of it strongly suggest that Chunk was injured in a fight with another bear. Many questions swirled about Chunk’s fate after he broke his jaw. Bears in Katmai National Park do not receive veterinary care, and the fracture hobbled his ability to maintain his dominance and catch newly arrived salmon. Despite that, Chunk proved immediately adaptable. He adjusted his behavior to avoid most direct confrontations with other large male bears. He quickly learned to eat salmon without the full use of his mandible. Additionally, his large body size still gave him easy access to many productive fishing spots. He remains one of the largest bears at Brooks River. Chunk used his determination and adaptability to persevere through injury. He will need that ability indefinitely as his broken jaw is a permanent disability that will never return to normal.
UPCOMING EVENTS
October 2 - Canmore Municipal All-Candidates Forums on the Environment
The Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley is hosting a Canmore All-Candidates Forum on the Environment in advance of the upcoming municipal election. This FREE forum is your opportunity to hear directly from candidates about their plans to address the Bow Valley’s most pressing environmental challenges. Our ED Gareth Thomson will facilitate the conversations, with questions developed in collaboration with local environmental organizations. Donations to help cover venue and A/V costs will be gratefully received.
Canmore Forum - Thursday, October 2 | 7–9 p.m.
Canmore Seniors’ Association, Creekside Hall. Click here for the List of Questions for Canmore.
Canmore Livestream Link
October 2-19 - EV’s are for Everyone Cross-Canada Tour in Canmore!
The 2025 EV’s are for Everyone Cross-Canada Tour is coming to Canmore from Oct.2-19! 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.
Canmore MEET - Click Here to Book your Canmore Test Drive!
This event will take place in Canmore from Oct.2-19, 2025, every Thursday to Sunday from 10am-5pm at the Canmore Recreation Centre.
October 26 - Banff Share and Repair Fair
Join the Town of Banff and the Biosphere Institute for a fun, FREE community event celebrating the circular economy. Explore on-site repairs, hands-on workshops, live music, and community connection - plus free Frankie D’s donuts! Sunday, Oct.26 | 10am-2pm | Fenlands Rec. Centre.
Special Workshop Highlight: Join Iethka (Stoney) artists Kyle Kaquitts and Jarron Poucette for a hands-on session where you’ll bead and assemble your own buckskin medicine bag necklace. The workshop begins with a smudge ceremony and stories about honouring all parts of the animal.
From Patagonia to Community Cruisers, discover an array of local businesses and organizations driving reuse, repair, upcycling, and sharing across the Bow Valley.
Click here to RSVP for free and be entered to win prizes and get first access to workshop sign-up!
Iethka (Stoney) artists Kyle Kaquitts and Jarron Poucette
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 | 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 – 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