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.30, 2025)
(Banff National Park East Gate to Bow Valley Provincial Park)
It was another relatively quiet week for bear sightings in the Bow Valley and Kananaskis Country, even though they are still out on the landscape. According to GPS collar data, some female grizzly bears have moved up to higher elevations in denning territory and they will likely remain at or near their den sites, but other collared (and non-collared) grizzlies continue to be seen out and about searching for last minute calories. With food getting scarce, it is extra important for campers and day users to make sure NO attractants are left unattended that could attract bears. Remote camera and collar data have shown that some males like to stay out on the landscape into mid-December. With this in mind, it is important that we don’t become complacent when heading out on the trails and that we are mentally prepared for possible encounters with wildlife!
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). 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!
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.
You can help keep bears and other wildlife out of trouble by bringing your pumpkins inside when you go to bed tomorrow night after trick-or-treating and remember to dispose of them in Residential Food Waste Containers.
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 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. 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
Elk rutting season is winding down 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 elk lots of space, at least 30m or 3 school bus lengths, and never try to sneak past them. Never get between a male elk and the female elk and keep 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: 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.
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).
Related article: Hunter mauled by grizzly bear west of Calgary.
A cougar family caught on camera at this time of year in 2020. Photo courtesy of Alberta Forestry & Parks.
Every time you head out on the trails you need to be vigilant and mentally prepared for possible encounters with wildlife! It is also safer to hike, bike, run, or ski in a group. Make lots of noise when out on the trails, and avoid recreating at dusk, dawn or at night which is when cougars and other wildlife are most active. Be aware of your surroundings by periodically checking behind you to make sure there are no animals following you and by not wearing earbuds/headphones, which will limit your ability to hear approaching wildlife.
Even though the bears have or will enter their dens soon, there are still many species that do not hibernate (i.e. cougars, wolves, coyotes, deer and elk) that you need to be aware of and prepared to encounter while out on the trails. Remember to carry bear spray in an easily accessible location (not in your backpack), know how to use it and use it if required. Bear spray should be carried year-round and is also effective against other wildlife such as cougars, wolves, coyotes and elk.
WILDLIFE AMBASSADOR WORDS OF WISDOM
Wildlife Ambassador Derek is back to talk about bear’s fur and how it keeps them warm and dry.
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. November 1 - West Bragg Creek
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.
If you have a fruit tree, such as a crabapple, mountain ash or chokecherry - picking fruit every year is a lot of work so the recommended long-term solution is to remove your fruit tree. There is still 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 your fruit tree now while the funds are available! These programs are first-come first-served while funds are available.
Click here to view a handy Fruit-Bearing Trees & Shrubs Identification Guide!
Here is an archived video of a black bear feeding in a cherry tree in Canmore.
Halloween is tomorrow night! 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! 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. You don’t want to attract a visitor to your door after Halloween like in this video. 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!
Pumpkins are a wildlife attractant to all sorts of animals, not just bears. Please dispose of your pumpkins properly. DO NOT leave them out in your yard!
WILDLIFE IN THE NEWS
Man rushed to hospital by air ambulance after grizzly bear attack near Calgary.
First grizzly bear killed under new provincial program in Alberta.
‘Courageous and strong’ B.C. man dies 3 weeks after fighting off grizzly bear.
Honey-hunting grizzlies are 'one of the realities' for beekeepers in Bearberry, AB.
Squamish editorial: “Curbside Collection Assessment for the District of Squamish”.
When a polar bear kills, it doesn’t just eat. It feeds a whole ecosystem.
‘Be proud’: Revelstoke continues to slash human-bear conflict.
Golfers notice cougar staring at them from a tree in Montana (video).
Athabasca man's Thanksgiving drive turns wild after cougar encounter.
Playful black bear caught taking a spin on a swing in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
AND NOW SOME PAWS-ITIVE NEWS
Polar Bear Week is the first week of November and this year runs from Nov.2-8. 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 Meril Darees/Polar Bears International.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Nov.6-7 - Building for Sustainablity Symposium
The countdown is on — the 3rd Annual Building for Sustainability Symposium is happening next week, November 6–7 at The Malcolm Hotel in Canmore, and only a few tickets remain!
Join builders, designers, developers, and policymakers from across Alberta and beyond for two dynamic days of learning, collaboration, and inspiration focused on advancing low-carbon, resilient, and high-performance building practices in the Bow Valley and beyond.
Experience hands-on workshops, field trips, and inspiring keynotes that explore the future of sustainable building — from design innovation to practical policy solutions.
Why You Should Attend:
This year’s Symposium is all about turning ideas into action. Together, we’ll:
Share real-world strategies, technologies, and materials to build or retrofit for minimal carbon footprints and maximum climate resilience.
Explore incentives, supports, and policy pathways to make sustainable building financially and logistically achievable.
Push beyond current codes and standards toward next-generation performance benchmarks.
Build on the momentum of past delegates who’ve pledged to reduce emissions, cut waste, and accelerate innovation in high-performance design.
By the end of the event, you’ll leave not just inspired — but equipped with the tools, partnerships, and knowledge to drive sustainable building in your own projects and community.
What’s Included:
7 Field Trips across the Bow Valley to see sustainable building in action
2 Keynote Presentations, including:
• Climate-Ready Buildings: Integrating Sustainability & Resilience — Dr. Anabela Bonada
• Why Sustainability Pays Off — Economically & Beyond — Jonathan Westeinde17 Workshops covering everything from energy efficiency to innovative design strategies
Panel Discussion on incentivizing sustainable builds
Networking Opportunities to connect with peers, experts, and change-makers shaping the future of building in Alberta
Don’t miss your chance to be part of this one-of-a-kind event — tickets are almost gone!
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