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!
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!
BEAR ACTIVITY UPDATE (August 21, 2025)
(Banff National Park East Gate to Bow Valley Provincial Park)
There continue to be regular bear sightings throughout the Bow Valley and Kananaskis Country as bears are keying in on the berries still left hanging. Berry season is starting to wane in the valley bottoms as ripe berries are starting to fall of bushes, but that does not mean you can be complacent! Some berries will continue to ripen as you start heading up to higher elevations, and ripe Dogwood berries are starting to make an appearance in the Bow Valley. Dogwood is a big attractant for bears and it’s found in residential areas, along the river trails and at campgrounds throughout the Bow Valley. Residents should be removing berry bushes and any fruit from the trees in their yards now to help keep bears out of trouble!
People need to be super vigilant in securing wildlife attractants, at home, on the trails and while camping and picnicking. Bears will have their heads down, focused on eating berries and other natural food sources, which makes it crucial that we do not leave any food out (at home and on the trails). Any patch of berries, large or small, could be hiding a bear so people need to be cognizant of this. To avoid negative wildlife encounters, make lots of noise to alert wildlife of your presence, travel in groups, stay on designated trails, keep dogs on a leash at all times, be extra aware of your surroundings and always carry bear spray in an easily accessible location (not your backpack) and know how to use it!
If you see a bear: stop, speak calmly, and slowly leave the area - give them plenty of space, at least 100m! Do not try to sneak past them and don’t expect bears to move off a food source. Bears can be very possessive of their berry patches and may exert their dominance. Give them the space they need to forage undisturbed as these next few weeks are the most important time for them to feed and take in these precious calories for their survival.
Mother grizzly and cub in K-Country. Photo taken on Aug.16, 2025.
VIEW CURRENT WARNINGS AND CLOSURES
Bear Warning - Two Jack Main and Two Jack Lakeside Campgrounds due to a black bear frequenting the area that is exhibiting curious behaviour.
SOME THINGS TO ‘BEAR’ IN MIND
Trail users need to mentally prepare themselves to handle bear encounters. Think about what you will do before you head out on the trail and expect to run into a bear while out on the trails! Watch this short video about how to handle (and avoid) bear encounters to help you with this mental preparation. Bears have their heads down and are focused on eating berries. Their obsessive focus increases the chance of a surprise encounter with you. Always be prepared and on the lookout for bears feeding on buffaloberries while you recreate, as many berry bushes are found along popular trails. It is up to us to make lots of noise to help avoid any surprise encounters, and give them time to move off the tails. But remember, don’t expect bears to move for you as they may be reluctant to move away from their food source!
High-speed activities such as trail-running and mountain biking can pose extra risk as there is less time for wildlife to react and move off of the trail, resulting in an increased chance of surprise encounters. Some tips to avoid negative wildlife encounters are: make lots of noise and slow down when coming around blind corners, over blind hills or in areas with thick vegetation, especially berry bushes.
Properly managing and storing wildlife attractants (such as food, drinks and garbage) is of utmost importance as bears continue to be seen in and around campgrounds and day use areas! ALL attractants need to be secured in your vehicle, hard-sided trailer or bear-proof lockers. Never leave your food unattended - even for a minute - and try not to have too much food out on your table. If a bear approaches your picnic table with food on it, yell and shout to try and scare the bear away, do your best to secure your food; this scenario would be an example of a good time to use your bear spray. It is important 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.
WILDLIFE AMBASSADOR WORDS OF WISDOM
In the heart of berry season, both Black Bears and Grizzly Bears leave telltale signs they're around. One is that they damage the berry bushes themselves. Have a quick peek with Wildlife Ambassador Derek at what that looks like in this 1-minute video.
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. August 23 - West Bragg Creek, Sandy McNabb Trailhead & Upper Kananaskis Lake.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT?
As the Buffaloberries are starting to wane, Dogwood berries are starting to ripen and make an appearance in the Bow Valley. Fruit trees and shrubs are the main attractants that will draw bears into residential areas and NOW is the time to remove the fruit before a bear points out the problem. Leaving fruit (such as crabapple, mountain ash, chokecherry and dogwood) in your trees can attract bears into residential areas, putting bears and people at risk. 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 the fruit is removed BEFORE it is ripe! Residents can be fined for letting fruit and berries accumulate on trees and on the ground in their yards as per the Community Standards Bylaw.
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.
Our extendable pole saw pruner in action removing Mountain Ash berries. We have 12ft and 18ft pruners available to borrow.
If you prefer to remove your fruit tree (recommended), the Town of Canmore is running their Fruit Tree Removal and Replacement Incentive Program. Residents can get financial help to remove and replace fruit-bearing trees that attract bears into neighbourhoods.
Removal: The program will cover 100% of the cost of tree removal up to $500/property. For 2025 only, condos or commercial properties with five or more trees for removal may be eligible for additional support up to $1,000/property.
Replacement: Thanks to generous support from the G7, the Fruit Tree Replacement Incentive Program reimburses 100% of the cost to replace removed trees with non-fruit-bearing alternatives, up to $500 per residential property or up to $1,000 per condo association or commercial property (for the replacement of 5 or more trees). These programs are first-come first-served while funds are available. Click here for details and how to apply.
WILDLIFE IN THE NEWS
Three dead grizzly bears and near misses on railway in Banff National Park this summer.
Woman injured in black bear attack in Pemberton, B.C.
Bear caught red-handed raiding South Lake Tahoe ice cream shop.
Charging Grizzlies Spark Rare And Widespread ‘Bear Warning’ In Canada.
Shocking moment man comes face-to-face with cougar that strolled into California home.
'Bear attack victim' in Japan was actually killed by son, police say.
Japanese town holds bear drill after rise in attacks across the country.
Cougar mom and cubs stop by Island couple’s yard to play with ball.
It’s not just wild in Airdrie: bear spotted in neighbouring Okotoks.
Scary video shows moment when man's decision to feed wild bear goes wrong.
Good berry year equals good bear year in Castlegar, B.C.
AND NOW SOME PAWS-ITIVE NEWS
Many thanks to Ecclesiastical Insurance for their generous donation of $5,000 to the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley as part of their Give for Good Community Impact Grant. Ecclesiastical is a unique, specialist commercial insurance company dedicated to giving all their available profits to charity and good causes under the auspices of their charitable owner, Benefact Trust. Giving back is at the core of their business, and they are deeply committed to supporting charities that help improve the lives of those in need. One way they accomplish this is through their Community Impact Grant programs, including their employee-driven initiative: Give for Good.
Pictured from L to R: Keith McCullagh (Ecclesiastical Vice President Western Canada) and Nick de Ruyter (WildSmart Program Director).
Banff Ave Brewing Co. Charity Tap - Cheers to Local Conservation!
Have you gotten your pint yet? A huge thank you to Banff Ave Brewing Co. for choosing the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley and WildSmart as beneficiaries of their Community Beer program until the end of September!
Every pint of their crushable Dragonfruit Kölsch supports the Biosphere Institute—so treat yourself to something freshly juicy and help our local environment at the same time. Get yours before it’s gone! Thank you, Banff Ave Brewing Co., for your incredible support!
Our Charity Brew - the Rider’s Signet-ure Dragon Fruit Kölsch.
UPCOMING EVENTS
August 23 - ‘Share the Trails’ at Sandy McNabb Trailhead
Following the success of the past ‘Share the Trails’ events in Canmore, the Alberta Equestrian Federation (AEF) is excited to extend the spirit of trail collaboration and education to Sandy McNabb Trailhead, on August 23 from 10am-2pm.
These Trail Safety Days are designed to bring together trail users of all kinds—hikers, bikers, equestrians, dog walkers, and more—for a fun and informative day of outreach, community-building, and shared stewardship. The goal? Promote respectful trail use, improve safety, and build understanding between users, while celebrating the beautiful spaces we all enjoy.
Swing by for friendly conversations with local groups, including our Volunteer Wildlife Ambassadors, about trail safety, sharing the space with horses, hikers, and mountain bikers, and keeping Alberta’s trails safe and welcoming for everyone.
September 8 - Earth Talks: Relational Forest Bathing with Margaret
Earth Talks are Back! Join the Biosphere Institute and the Canmore Public Library for a special, interactive Earth Talk on Monday, September 8 at 6:30pm in the Friends Program Room at the Canmore Public Library and along Policeman’s Creek Trail.
Slow Down and Listen In with Margaret McKeon is an evening designed to help you cultivate a deeper relationship with the land. The session begins with a short presentation and guided meditation, followed by a forest bathing walk along Policeman’s Creek.
What to expect:
A new perspective on being in relationship with the land and the more-than-human world
A felt sense of slowing down and tuning in to place
Practical ideas for weaving this connection into daily life
Please dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes. Limited spots available.
Click here to Register for free today!
September 11 - Harnessing the Power of Food Workshop
Join the Biosphere Institute and the Co+Kitchen for an event all about Harnessing the Power of Food! Connect with community and food through hands-on cooking workshops that bring people together over planet-friendly, sustainable meals.
Workshop #1: Every Day Meals: Tofu Pita Burger, Pita bread, Salad with Canadian-harvested veggies on September 11, 2025 starting at 6pm (doors open at 5:30pm).
Tickets: $15 (If you have any questions or would like to request a subsidized ticket, please contact Yuka Ozawa at 403-763-1388.)
All menus are thoughtfully curated to highlight international flavours while using locally accessible ingredients. Each class offers a unique cultural experience through hands-on cooking, complemented by prepared items and live demos that showcase global inspiration rooted in our local food landscape. Click here to save 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