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 (Nov.23-30, 2023)

(Banff National Park East Gate to Bow Valley Provincial Park)

This will be the last weekly bear report for 2023!

There have not been any recent bear sightings in the Bow Valley but a male grizzly bear has been seen out and about in the Sibbald Area in Kananaskis Country. Christmas tree cutters and hikers need to be bear aware and should still carry bear spray and know how to use it, make noise, travel in groups, and always be aware of their surroundings. This recent cold spell will likely encourage any bears still out on the landscape to go into their winter dens but remember that some male bears might stay out of their dens until mid-December, and even into January. With this in mind, it is important that we do not become complacent when heading out on the trails and that we are always mentally prepared for possible encounters with wildlife!

We will continue to use this mailing list to send out any significant updates on wildlife activity as needed throughout the winter, as well as relevant WildSmart News and Events. Also keep an eye on our website, Facebook page and Instagram for updates on Bow Valley wildlife, events and educational resources throughout the winter.

The elk rut is over but numerous elk continue to be seen all throughout town which means you have to be alert 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) and do not try to sneak past them on the trail! Never approach elk for ANY reason and keep your pets on a leash.

VIEW CURRENT WARNINGS AND CLOSURES

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

Trail users should carry bear spray year-round, try to recreate in a group (as opposed to going out alone) and try to recreate during daylight hours as wildlife such as cougars are most active at dawn, dusk and at night. This can be tricky during the winter months as darkness comes earlier than usual...all the more reason to carry a good head-lamp and do your best to go out in a group as there is safety in numbers! It is also best to keep your dogs on a leash and if you are not able to do that, consider leaving them at home to give tired elk and deer some peace and quiet and time to recover from the busy and stressful rutting season.

Factors Influencing Bear Spray Performance

Bear spray should be carried year-round but with the cold weather we often get asked about the effect of colder temperatures on bear spray performance.

In a 2020 publication in the Journal of Wildlife Management, scientists examined the effects of temperature, wind, canister age, and repeated use on bear spray performance. The main takeaway is that bear spray is an important and effective deterrence tool in all areas where bears occur, even if it is windy or cold!

Temperature: Specifically, they tested bear spray in temperatures ranging from -23C to +25 C. In all cases they achieved a spray distance of four meters or more. At the lowest temperature tested (−23°C), bear spray had a range >4 m.

Wind: Even when used in the highest winds (~22mph or 35 kmph) coming directly towards the nozzle, the spray still reached 2 meters (the average distance of spray deployment in real incidents).

Canister Age/Repeated Use: When looking at repeated use, or test firing of bear spray, they found that approximately 50% of canister head pressure is lost during the first 1 second of spray use or greater. Finally, when examining the effect of time, the canisters lost about 1 gram of propellant for every year of age, supporting manufacturers' 4-year expiration dates.

Based on the results of this paper, they recommend the following guidelines:

Do not test‐fire cans intended for use in the field
Keep canisters warm when in the cold, tucking them inside a parka or sleeping bag
Retire canisters of bear spray when they are expired

Source: Smith, T.S., Wilder, J.M., York, G., Obbard, M.E. and Billings, B.W. (2020), An Investigation of Factors Influencing Bear Spray Performance. Journal of Wildlife Management. doi:10.1002/jwmg.21958

Wildlife Ambassador Words of Wisdom

A new tradition that we recently unveiled at our Wildlife Ambassador Season Wrap-up party, the volunteers had a chance to share some memorable stories and interactions that they had this past season. The group voted on their favourite and the winner got to take home the trophy for a year. Congrats to this year’s winner: Susan Rygus

Here is a short summary of Susan’s winning story: “I had the pleasure of meeting so many wonderful people as a new Wildlife Ambassador this past summer but the most memorable interaction was with a couple new to Canada. Following our initial discussion, the couple decided to leave in order to purchase bear spray before proceeding with their hike. They returned a while later excited to show me their new bear spray and holster exclaiming “now we can keep ourselves and the animals safe”. It made me proud to be a part of the WildSmart team, knowing we are fostering positive human-wildlife coexistence in the Bow Valley.” - Susan Rygus

WILDLIFE IN THE NEWS

Arizona woman dies after elk attack.
Wildlife encounters prompt calls for waste bylaw in Bragg Creek.
EDITORIAL: Human-wildlife management a shared responsibility.
‘Sometimes a fine is not enough,’ says B.C. judge who jailed guide for bear killings.
This is how conservationists are working to keep the grizzly bear alive in B.C.
Good discussion about coexistence: Grizzly bear warning in B.C. after sightings in urban areas.
Video of a hungry black bear caught picking apples in California.
Coast to Cascades working towards coexistence between Pemberton Meadows residents and grizzly bears.
The Teddy Bear Was Once Seen as a Dangerous Influence on Young Children.
Washington cougar research attempts to make cats fear humans through hazing.
Car vs. 500-pound bear: Full-grown black bear dies in Middle Tennessee.
Caught on camera: Bear ransacks car and a deer fawn trashes store.
Tracing the Gobi Bear in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT?

A Holiday Decorating Guide for the Bow Valley

Holiday decorations, loose and low-hanging cords, lights, and wires can become tangled in the antlers of deer, elk, and moose which can be dangerous, causing injuries or exhaustion. If entangled, the animal is often unable to untangle from the obstruction itself. Residents and business owners should walk their property and remove items that could potentially result in a wildlife entanglement incident. To protect these animals:

Secure lights to buildings instead of trees (especially within 10 feet of the ground).
Ensure strings of lights are secured tightly to buildings so they don’t sag and avoid stringing lights between multiple trees or across open spaces (when strings of lights are wrapped around low bushes, elk and deer may get their antlers tangled in them).
Consider using cord-free decorations.
Use timers to conserve energy and preserve the night sky.
After the holidays, remove lights and decorations promptly.

Keeping wildlife wild is a shared responsibility. Let's make it a safe and happy holiday season for everyone, including our wildlife friends!

Click here to read and download the full PDF version of the article “A Holiday Decorating Guide for the Bow Valley” from last year’s December 2022 Mountain Real Estate Magazine.

For those using a mobile device, click here to view the article online.

AND NOW SOME PAWS-ITIVE NEWS

We recently had our Volunteer Wildlife Ambassador end of season party! THANK YOU to our amazing and dedicated volunteers for making the trails safer for people and wildlife this season! In 2023, 29 volunteers contributed over 1,350 hours and spoke with over 15,000 residents and visitors about wildlife safety and responsible trail use. Another big THANK YOU to Panago Pizza in Canmore for feeding our hard working Wildlife Ambassadors at our party, and for acknowledging the importance of our volunteers giving back to the community!!!

Photo taken at the Wildlife Ambassador season wrap-up party on Nov.24, 2023.

Giving Tuesday - Support our Future Leaders

In the spirit and season of giving, we are reaching out to YOU, our incredible community of environmental supporters, with an opportunity to make a lasting impact for our future!

We have launched a fundraising campaign for our Future Leaders program from now until December 25th! Over the next 30 days, we have set the ambitious goal of raising $10,000 for our Future Leaders program, which empowers youth to take leadership on environmental challenges!

What is the Future Leaders program? Future Leaders is our environmental education program for students, teachers and youth of the Bow Valley! It consists of Alberta curriculum programs, Wildlife Edukits, the Future Leaders Youth Council and teacher professional learning.

Future Leaders Youth Council members, like Ko and Olivia (see below), are doing amazing things in their community. Last year, they created a radio series titled “Trash Talks” on Mountain FM, they are working on policy change regarding Alberta's temporary ban on renewable energies and will soon launch a public education video together with their peers at Roam Transit titled “Teens on Transit”.

Donate now and receive a tax-deductible receipt immediately! We will highlight and profile all donors of $100 or more in the next few weeks!

Giving Tuesday - Donate Now!

To learn more about our Future Leaders Program, as well as the rest of the Biosphere Insitute’s programs please watch this short video.

Festival of Trees

Upcycled and recycled holiday magic! ✨ We had a blast decorating our Christmas Tree at the Malcolm Hotel as part of the Festival of Trees. Thanks to our amazing staff and family for coming together to create all upcycled and recycled decorations … Come by and check it out! You can even power it up through our electric generator hand crank! 💪 ✨ 🌲 Pedal for a brighter future!!
Special thank you to Karen from @rotaryclubofcanmore for sponsoring our tree this year!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Dec.11 - Earth Talks: Illuminate, Craft and Create: Intro to Candle Making Workshop

Join the Canmore Public Library and the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley on December 11th for a cozy, DIY candle-making workshop with Esther Tie! This unique, hands-on Earth Talk offers attendees a chance to learn, create and take home their own DIY eco-friendly, customized scented candle. Attendees will:

Discover the art of candle-making by creating their own hand-made, eco-friendly scented candle. Just in time for the holidays to give to a special loved one, or indulge in yourself!
Learn the difference between the types of waxes available, wick size vs. vessel size, and how to mix your own scents!
We will also briefly discuss how DIY candle-making can be more sustainable, the ethics of using different ingredients, reusing containers and more!

This event requires registration and has a cost of $25 to cover the costs of your personalized, scented candle. Only 15 spots are available - you must register through this link to confirm your spot now!

Dec.16 - Banff-Canmore Christmas Bird Count

This year’s Christmas Bird Count will be on Saturday, December 16, 2023 and will be conducted similar to last year with self-organized pairs or groups surveying their assigned area and reporting their observations to Count organizers. The plan is to have their traditional potluck dinner afterward. Please contact either the Banff or Canmore coordinator if you would like to participate in this year's Count.
To sign up in Banff: heather@bowvalleynaturalists.org
To sign up in Canmore: ethan@suechick.com
Check out the Bow Valley Naturalists’ website for more information.

Jan.20 - Winter Safety Day Returns!

Alberta Parks is bringing the event back and the Friends of Kananaskis Country are helping! They are thrilled to be partnering with Parks staff to hold this event again. Together, they’re going to make the event bigger and better. The event is still early in the planning stages, so Save the Date and keep an eye on this page! It will get updated with more info and event schedules as they are finalized! Until then, visit this page to get some winter safety tips!

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

Bear Report - Nov.30, 2023