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BEAR ACTIVITY SUMMARY FOR THE BOW VALLEY
(Banff National Park East Gate to Bow Valley Provincial Park)
For the period: September 6 to September 13, 2019
SUMMARY
Bears continue to be seen on both sides of the Bow Valley in residential areas, and bears continue to be seen feeding in fruit trees in backyards! With buffaloberry season coming to an end, bears will be searching for other food sources.
Berry bushes and fruit trees are the main attractants drawing bears into residential and developed areas in town, which brings wildlife and humans close together and creates a concern for public and wildlife safety. 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, please ensure that the fruit is removed. Click here for more information about fruit trees and bears.
In an effort to reduce conflict between bears and people in Canmore, the Town of Canmore recently amended their wildlife attractant bylaw. People can now be fined for letting fruit and berries accumulate on trees and on the ground in their yards. In addition they are running a Voluntary Fruit Tree Removal Program, which you can learn more about in this recent video and article. Homeowners in the priority areas identified on the map below are invited to express their interest in participating in the program which will cover 50% of the cost of removal to a maximum of $300 if they use an arborist or tree removal service to remove their tree. More information about the bylaw and the fruit tree removal program can also be found on their website by clicking on this link.
If you are renting or live in a condo complex, please contact your landlord or condo board/association and notify them if there are trees with fruits and berries on the property so they can arrange to either remove the trees or ensure the fruit is removed. We have pruning shears and extendable fruit pickers that can be borrowed free of charge to allow residents to remove fruit and berry bushes from their property. Please drop by the Biosphere Institute in Canmore to pick up the fruit picking equipment. If you are not sure what to do with the crabapples, you can use them to make delicious jams, jellies and baked goods and liqueurs!
A reminder that we are in elk rutting season and it will last until mid-October. Male elk are particularly protective of the female elk they are with. Give plenty of space to elk (more than 30 meters), never get between a male elk and a female elk, be sure to keep pets on-leash and if an elk charges, place a large object (e.g. car, large tree) between you and the elk. Elk frequently hang out in wide open fields such as school yards and playing fields around town. An idea for 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.
Bears are not only found in warning and closure areas! If you are recreating anywhere in the Bow valley be prepared and on the lookout for wildlife as they can be encountered anywhere at anytime.
To reduce the risk of encounters with wildlife:
Make lots of noise in order to alert them to your presence.
Travel in tight groups.
Be aware of your surroundings (look and listen for wildlife and their signs, i.e. tracks and scat). Avoid wearing earbuds, and slow down, especially near blind hills and corners.
Keep dogs on-leash and remember to pick up after your dogs as their feces can act as an attractant for bears.
Do not leave any garbage, remnants of food or items that have a smell outside as they may attract wildlife.
Carry bear spray in an easily accessible location, know how to use it and be prepared to use it! Close encounters with bears can happen in seconds so you need to be ready. Bear spray has also been shown to be effective at deterring other wildlife such as cougars, wolves, coyotes and elk, and it should be carried along well-traveled trails in and around town.
Hunting season has started. Please be aware of your surroundings and stay clear of dead animals. Hunters should always carry and use bear spray as the first line of defense, even if they are carrying a gun.
CURRENT WARNINGS AND CLOSURES
Bear Closure - Rockwall Trail and the meadow located southeast of the Peter Lougheed Discovery Centre and extending 100 meters into timber around the meadow due to multiple bears in the area.
Bear Warning - Commonwealth Creek trail, Commonwealth Lake trail, Birdwood Lakes, Smutwood Peak and surrounding area due to a grizzly bear frequenting the area.
Bear Warning - Bow River Campground due to a black bear in the area.
Bear Closure - Bill Milne Trail from Mount Kidd Residence Road to Highway 40 due to a bear feeding in the area.
Bear Warning - Spray Lakes West Campground & Old Goat Glacier Trail due to multiple black bears feeding in the area, including a sow with two young of the year cubs.
Bear Warning - Mt. Kidd RV Park Campground including campsites, trails and the permanent house trailer park due to a black bear frequenting the area.
Bear Closure - The area south of Mount Kidd RV Park F-Loop bordered by the Kananaskis River on the west and Hwy 40 on the east, plus the powerline in this region due to multiple bears feeding on berries in the area.
Bear Warning - Troll Falls, Hay Meadows, and Stoney Trail due to multiple bears frequenting the area.
Fox Warning - Sundance Lodges, campground and area due to a food conditioned red fox in the area. The fox has been approaching campers attempting to gain access to human food left in firepits, on picnic tables and in cooking areas.
Bear Warning - Kananaskis Village hotels and staff housing areas including the Village Rim trail, baseball diamond, and nearby circulation trails due to multiple black bears with cubs frequenting the area.
*Bears are not only found in closure or warning areas. You should always remain alert while walking, hiking, running and biking, and remember that bears can be encountered anytime, anywhere!
Here is a list of some Annual Closures in Kananaskis Country.
A complete list of all warnings and closures is available here for anyone visiting the Bow Valley, Kananaskis Country and Alberta Parks.
A complete list of all warnings and closures is available here for Banff National Park.
For more information on areas in the Bow Valley frequented by bears at this time of year visit our human-bear conflict summary map.
The information above 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.
AND NOW SOME PAWS-ITIVE NEWS
Next week we are hosting an informative and hands-on workshop that will focus on keeping both you and wildlife safe at home and out on the trails. This workshop will include a tutorial on how to use bear spray! This presentation is open to all residents and families in the Bow Valley. It is FREE and registration is required!
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