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.23, 2025)
(Banff National Park East Gate to Bow Valley Provincial Park)
It was a fairly quiet week for bears in the Bow Valley and Kananaskis Country, and the colder weather will likely speed up the process of bears heading into their dens. Although some bears are thinking about hibernating, many are still on the fence and trying to get some last snacks in before they den. With food getting scarce, it is extra important for campers and day users to make sure NO attractants are left unattended. Situational awareness is still important when you’re out on the landscape so people need to be thinking about bears (and other wildlife) and expecting encounters when out recreating. For example, there is a Coyote/Wolf Warning at the Allen Bill Day Use, Elbow River PRA, Fullerton Trailhead Day Use to Canyon Creek due to a coyote that persistently approached a person and their dog, and was undeterred by shouting and thrown rocks.
There were more reports of a black bear in the Silvertip and Benchlands areas in Canmore this past week. Bears are opportunistic feeders and will eat anything that is available to them, so please make sure your yard is free of all potential attractants that bears and other wildlife might try to eat - or you may face steep fines and be responsible for killing a bear! These attractants include fruit (both on trees and on the ground), PUMPKINS, pet food, bird feeders, garbage, recycling and greasy bbq’s. 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.
There have been some questions about fruit trees, so to clarify: fruit trees are any fruit bearing trees and shrubs that people have in their yards that may attract wildlife, including bears. Even though some of these fruit trees may not often have bears feeding in them (or maybe you have never had a bear feeding in your fruit tree), they are still considered wildlife attractants and there is a chance that bears may try to access them. As such, they should be removed and replaced with non-fruit bearing alternatives, or at a minimium, the fruit needs to be removed before it ripens. Even ornamental fruit trees could be enticing for a bear if it was hungry, even if a bear has never fed in it!
Here is a list of some of the most common fruit bearing trees and shrubs that are known bear attractants in the Bow Valley. IMPORTANT NOTE: This is not an exhaustive list. It is a guideline for those who are unsure about fruit trees and there may be other plants that bears will eat opportunistically. Click here to view a handy Fruit-Bearing Trees & Shrubs Identification Guide!
Some Fruit-bearing Trees and Shrubs that are known bear attractants:
All Apple Species: including crabapple and ornamental apple trees
All cherry species: Pincherry, Amur, Western chokecherry, Schubert chokecherry, Mayday
Plum Trees
All Mountain Ash species: the main one in Canmore is Western Mountain Ash
Dogberry
Canadian Buffaloberry (aka Soap Berry, shepherdia canadensis)
Kinnickinnick/Bearberry
Red Osier Dogwood
Common Wild Rose, including Prickly Rose
Wild Strawberry, Raspberry and Saskatoon berry
Currants: Alpine, Golden Flowering, Bristly Black
Wolf Willow | Cotoneaster | Gooseberry | Elderberry | Snowberry: Common and Western.
Juniper & Honeysuckle
For Canmore Residents: You can take a look at Appendix F (starting on page 271) in the Engineering Design and Construction Guidelines to find lists of acceptable trees and shrubs for planting, as well as a list of plants that are prohibited for being a fruit bearing plant and/or a wildlife attractant, particularly palatable to bears. Please note all fruit bearing trees are prohibited in Canmore, regardless of not specifically being listed. Go to page 293 in Appendix F and look for Table 6: Prohibited Plant List in the Engineering Design and Construction Guidelines.
You can help keep bears and other wildlife out of trouble by keeping your pumpkins indoors! It is a very simple act that can keep yourself and your neighbourhood safe! Pumpkins make a tasty meal for a hungry bear trying to fatten up for the winter ahead (pumpkin seeds have 163 calories an ounce; pulp is 50 calories a cup). If you don't want a bear in your yard, or to get a bear relocated or killed, make sure you don't provide it with a meal!
Black bear accessing a Schubert chokecherry tree in Canmore this week.
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!
Important note about Reporting wildlife in Canmore: The correct number to call is Kananaskis Dispatch at 403-591-7755, but of course it is not a guarantee that Kananaskis Dispatch will promptly relay the reports to Fish & Wildlife and Canmore Municipal Enforcement. Fish and Wildlife have to come all the way from Cochrane so there is often a delay which is why Town of Canmore Municipal Enforcement often are first on the scene, and why it is helpful for them to also receive the reports. Here is the reporting procedure we recommend:
1. Report the wildlife sightings to Kananaskis Dispatch at 403-591-7755
2. Then also report it to Town of Canmore Municipal Enforcement at 403-678-4244
That way, Municipal Enforcement will be able to assess the situation and they can also directly contact Fish & Wildlife and give them updates and more information. Peace officers are not able to move or handle bears but they can certainly keep an eye on them until Fish & Wildlife arrives.
SOME THINGS TO ‘BEAR’ IN MIND
Large herds of elk continue to be seen throughout town which means you have to be vigilant and you may have to choose an alternate route while out for a walk/run/ride. Give plenty of space to ALL ELK (at least 30 metres or 3 bus lengths), never try to sneak past them, never get between a male elk and the female elk, and keep your pets on a leash.
Remember: Always 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!
SLOW DOWN: Elk have also recently been seen along our busy roads and trails. Remember to drive carefully, obey speed limits, and scan for wildlife that may be feeding or lingering roadside. Motorists need to be extra alert (especially at dawn and dusk) as the days are getting shorter and the number of darkness hours are increasing. Check out the Friends of Kananaskis Country’s Tips for Roadside Wildlife Viewing.
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).
Elk grazing along Benchlands Trail (close to the highway) in Canmore.
WILDLIFE AMBASSADOR WORDS OF WISDOM
Join Wildlife Ambassador Derek to look closely at the teeth of a bear, and see what they tell us.
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 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.
Apply for the Town of Canmore’s Fruit Tree Removal and Replacement Incentive: Picking the 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 and replacing 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!
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 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.
Pumpkins are a wildlife attractant to all sorts of animals, not just bears. You can help keep bears and other wildlife out of trouble by keeping your pumpkins indoors! Photo courtesy of Parks Canada.
Halloween is only a week away and there are pumpkins outside on doorsteps. Please be proactive to help keep your children, the children in your neighbourhood and our local wildlife safe by placing 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. If you don't want a bear in your yard, or to get a bear relocated or killed, make sure you don't provide it with a meal! 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 can be put outside on Oct.31 to be enjoyed by trick-or-treaters but make sure you bring them back inside before going to bed!
After Halloween, please dispose of your pumpkins properly and do not leave them outside inviting them to get smashed up by pranksters or eaten by wildlife. In Canmore, pumpkins should be disposed of in the bear-proof Residential Food Waste Containers and remember to remove candles and other non organic decorations!
WILDLIFE IN THE NEWS
How a B.C. man rescued himself from the jaws of a grizzly bear.
Grizzly bears break into woman's home and car on B.C.’s Central Coast.
B.C. grizzly bear that attacked elk hunter found dead.
Bear kills livestock, chases humans in West Kelowna.
Bears kill record number of people in Japan amid scores of attacks.
Wild bear stealthily enters California zoo, is found visiting the bear exhibit.
A bear-y odd guest: Bear breaks into Aspen gym.
AND NOW SOME PAWS-ITIVE NEWS
Is your refundable recycling piling up? Did you know you can help support us by donating your refundable recyclables through SkipTheDepot? It's so convenient to have your refundable recyclables picked up at your door, with proceeds going to Biosphere Institute. Collections can now be scheduled in Canmore and many other towns and cities. Recycling is now as easy as 1,2,3:
1. Download the app or register online, and book a pickup by clicking on this link.
2. Place your bags outside
3. Your refund gets donated directly to the Biosphere Institute!
Spread the word and share with friends! SkipTheDepot is a great way to donate directly to the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley and WildSmart. Thanks for your support!
CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES
Join the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley and help lead community action on climate change and sustainability! We’re hiring a temporary Shift: Climate Transitions Program Coordinator (Maternity Leave) to deliver engaging education programs, build partnerships, and support local emissions reduction initiatives—from energy-efficient buildings and electric vehicles to circular economy projects. If you are interested in applying for this opportunity please email a resume and cover letter to grace@biosphereinstitute.org by October 24, 2025. Proposed start date: Dec.1, 2025. Click here to learn more and apply!
UPCOMING EVENTS
Oct.25 Banff Annual Recycling Roundup
The Banff Recycling Roundup is this Saturday October 25, 2025 from 10am-4pm. Banff residents can stop by the parking lot by the Fire Hall on Beaver Street to drop off items, including expired bear spray, for free collection and disposal. Click here to view the list of accepted items.
Can't make it? Drop off waste and electronics year-round at the Town Transfer Site.
Oct.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.
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.
Sign up here for a free workshop. Drop-ins are also welcome pending capacity.
We are still looking for community volunteers - Click here to sign up as a volunteer.
Iethka (Stoney) artists Kyle Kaquitts and Jarron Poucette will lead a medicine bag necklace wokshop!
Oct.30 - Quirky Climate Fashion Show Fundraiser!
Join the Mountain Grannies and the Biosphere Institute for this bright, bold, and unexpectedly funny unique fashion-performance that uses original, story-filled garments to spark conversations about climate change. Far from gloom and doom, the show invites audiences to look, listen, learn – and even laugh. Come be inspired to reflect, talk, and take action on the climate crisis… with a touch of humour and colour along the way (Garments are not for sale).
Thursday, Oct 30, 2025 at Creekside Hall
Doors open: 6:30pm | Fashion Show starts at: 7:00pm
Tickets: $40 (Use Promocode "CANMORE10" for 10% off your ticket)
Click here to buy tickets now! (Ticket includes a glass of wine + assorted cheeses and crackers).
All proceeds will be donated to the Stephen Lewis Foundation and the Biosphere Institute!
Nov.21 - Do-Si-Do for the Biosphere Institute: Square Dance Fundraiser
Dust off your boots for a night of toe-tappin’ fun featuring live music, light snacks, prizes, and a lively square dance led by a professional caller. No experience needed.
There will be a cash bar with a special contribution from Wild Life Distillery, and plenty of chances to win big with our Silent Auction, Draw Prizes and 50/50 draw. Fire in the hole!
Friday November 21, 2025.
Doors open: 6:30 PM at the Cornerstone Theatre | Dancing starts at 7:30 PM
General Admission: $45 + fees
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