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!
The information below 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.
BEAR ACTIVITY UPDATE (Oct.19-26, 2023)
(Banff National Park East Gate to Bow Valley Provincial Park)
It was a fairly quiet week for bears in the Bow Valley and the colder weather and snow will likely speed up the process of bears heading into their dens. Although bears are thinking about hibernating, a few are still on the fence and trying to get some last snacks in before they den. Situational awareness is still important when you’re out on the landscape so people need to be thinking about bears and expecting encounters when out recreating. 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! These attractants include fruit (both on trees and on the ground), PUMPKINS, pet food, bird feeders, garbage and greasy barbecues.
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. If you don't want a bear in your yard, or to get relocated or destroyed, make sure you don't provide it with a meal!
Don’t provide wildlife with easy meals like pumpkins. Keep pumpkins inside to avoid getting wildlife into trouble. Archived photo courtesy of Erin Kirkland.
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 pets on a leash.
Elk have also recently been seen along our busy roads. With the snow on the ground and slippery conditions, 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.
Bow hunting season is now open in the Bow Valley. Due to the nature of the activity, hunters need to be cautious as they are intentionally quiet on the landscape. If you are recreating, please remain alert of your surroundings, avoid dead animals and always carry bear spray. Everyone, including hunters, should remain aware of their surroundings and also be prepared with bear spray and know how to use it!
Elk grazing dangerously close to the busy TCH on Oct.25 in Canmore.
You can also submit your report using the Report-A-Poacher Online form or contact your local district Fish and Wildlife office.
SOME THINGS TO ‘BEAR’ IN MIND
Ever wonder what bears do in October? Learn all about it from our friends at BearWise south of the border. October at a Glance: Hyperphagia is in full-swing. Bears may be awake and searching for food up to 20 hours a day. Many bears also look for den sites. Some pregnant females may den up by the end of the month. As days shorten, vehicle collisions rise. Click here to read the full article about “What bears do in October!”
This post-berry season human-bear conflict summary map shows the areas in the Bow Valley frequented by bears at this time of year.
The Town of Canmore Needs your Help!
They are making a plan for how humans and wildlife can better coexist in the Canmore area and YOU have a voice in shaping the actions they take!
Are you concerned about the fact that bears continue to be relcocated and destroyed after being drawn into town by people allowing fruit to accumulate on their trees?
Removing fruit trees and bushes from your property can help keep you, your community, and wildlife safe. They are looking to understand gaps and opportunities to encourage people to remove fruit-bearing plants from their yards.
Keeping pets on a leash can help keep you, your dog, and wildlife safe. They are looking to understand gaps and opportunities to encourage people to keep their pets on leash.
Living in the Bow Valley means we need to take extra care to keep wildlife alive and our human communities safe.
Help the Town understand how they can make it easier to take actions that support human-wildlife coexistence. Take their short and anonymous survey until Oct. 31, 2023 by clicking below!
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 to talk to people about responsible trail use and staying safe while recreating in bear country. Note: the locations they go to may change at the last minute.
Saturday, October 28 - Downtown Canmore by the big head statue.
Keep an eye out for the Wildlife Ambassadors next time you are out on the trails in the Bow Valley and K-Country and be sure to say hi and have a chat with them!
WILDLIFE IN THE NEWS
Food-conditioned black bear heading into den in Banff National Park.
Banff black bear appears conditioned to human food.
The Boss back in Banff prompts uptick in fruit tree removals.
'I was freaked out': Woman recalls bear encounter in Alberta.
Watch this black bear creep up behind a Virginia man as he tends his backyard.
WATCH: Child has a close encounter with a black bear in B.C.
Black bear eating take-out in video prompts investigation by B.C. conservation officers.
Bear encoutner in kitchen of Aspen hotel caught on camera.
Japan sees unprecedented pace of increase in bear attack victims.
5 black bears in a tree, a grizzly in the backyard: This week in B.C. bear photos.
Trail camera captures bear's funny moves during back scratch.
Watch Alaska Police chase and capture black bear cub in local grocery store.
Hunters encouraged to make bear awareness a top priority.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT?
Halloween is a only a few days away and there are many 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 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. Pumpkins placed inside windows can still be enjoyed by trick-or-treaters, but you won’t end up with a nasty fright if a bear shows up on your doorstep. If you must put pumpkins outside on Halloween, make sure you take them 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. You don’t want to attract a visitor to your door the day after Halloween like in this video. In Canmore, pumpkins should be disposed of in the bear-proof Community Food Waste Containers. Remember to remove candles and other non organic decorations!
Pumpkins placed inside your windows can still be enjoyed by trick-or-treaters!
AND NOW SOME PAWS-ITIVE NEWS
Polar Bear Week is the first week of November and this year runs from Oct.29-Nov.4. The theme this year is polar bear-human coexistence. Polar bears are already starting to gather on the shores of Hudson Bay to wait for freeze-up so they can return to hunting seals. During Polar Bear Week, we celebrate the bears and draw attention to the need to take action on climate change … and you can help! Sea ice loss from human-caused climate change is the single biggest threat to polar bears. As an exercise for today, you could try reimagining your community in a completely sustainable light. You can help promote clean transportation and projects that reduce the number of vehicles on our roads. You can also applaud and practice energy-efficient construction standards that set new efficiency guidelines for heating and cooling systems, insulation, and lighting.
This year, Polar Bears International is raising funds to underwrite their coexistence efforts while also supporting their other conservation efforts across the Arctic. Helping polar bears and people live safely with each other is critically important as more polar bears are spending more time onshore as the sea ice melts. Here are some cool facts about polar bears to kick off your weekend!
Photo by Erinn Hermsen/Polar Bears International.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Nov. 5 & 6 - Building for Sustainability Symposium (Malcolm Hotel, Canmore)
Only a few tickets remain for the inaugural Building for Sustainability Symposium, a symposium of strategies, solutions and best practices in buildings, infrastructure, and urban planning. Learn about building or designing retrofits for minimum climate greenhouse gas emissions, and maximum climate resilience, while increasing attainability and affordability - and addressing the requirements of building codes and step codes. You will hear from diverse voices on how appropriate urban design, land use planning, building location, and density can support environmental, social AND economic sustainability.
Great networking opportunities will be provided throughout the event. Let's create a less polarized, more resilient community. Click here to register now!
Nov. 8 - Climate Emergency Action Plan Webinar #2 (6:00-7:00 PM)
Low Carbon Scenario and Adaptation Actions: Online Presentation and Q+A. Join the Town of Canmore for an interactive online conversation where they will share a potential scenario for dramatically reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Canmore along with proposed adaptation actions that can help Canmore proactively prepare and respond to the impacts of climate change.
Share your input about the proposed actions and how you think climate action can be implemented in Canmore. Click here to register Now!
Nov. 15 - Bow Valley Storytelling at Wild Life Distillery
In their efforts to support community collaborations and get folks engaged on environmental topics, Wild Life Distillery will host a "Bow Valley Storytelling" evening on November 15th from 7-9pm. The event will feature stories of place and be part of BVIP Community Week.
Nov.17 - Biosphere Institute's 2nd Annual Do-Si-Do Square Dance Fundraiser
In honour of our 26th birthday, the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley is hosting our second annual Community Square Dance Fundraiser including a silent auction at the Cornerstone Theatre on Friday, November 17, 2023, at 7 pm! Get your tickets now before they sell out! Last year was an absolute blast, and we look forward to another year of boot-stompin' fun with you all!
All are welcome! Dance the night away to an incredible live band and so much laughing your belly will hurt the next day. All funds raised will go to supporting the Biosphere Institute's programs.
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