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 now!
BEAR ACTIVITY UPDATE (April 4, 2026)
(Banff National Park East Gate to Bow Valley Provincial Park)
Bears have started to emerge from their dens and until the snow melts at higher elevations, we will be sharing the valley bottoms with them so there is an increased chance of encountering wildlife.
Related article: “The Boss” was seen moving about on the landscape in Banff National Park.
Although there have not been many recent bear sightings, there have been several reports of people finding grizzly and black bear tracks and scat in the Bow Valley and in Kananaskis Country.
At this time of the year, bears are emerging from their dens hungry, and are often found in the valley bottoms looking for food. This can result in an increased chance of encounters with humans as we too spend most of our time in the valley bottoms! As such, all recreationists should always be expecting to encounter bears and mentally plan for this, which includes carrying bear spray and being prepared to use it. To help get prepared for possible encounters with bears, make sure you come to Bear Day on April 18 (read more below) - learn bear safety skills, how to use bear spray and much more!
You can expect sightings to increase over the next few weeks as the weather gets warmer, more people head out on the landscape and more bears emerge from their dens.
Our Concerns Regarding the Proposed Silvertip Gondola
Is there an environmental case against the proposed Silvertip gondola? We’ve put our heads together with other environmental organizations – and the answer is Yes! Visit this link to get informed, and don’t forget to attend the Silvertip Gondola project open house, Tuesday April 7 from 3-8 PM at the Silvertip Pavilion in Canmore to learn more about the project - and provide feedback.
Get involved: People, Places, and Pathways in Canmore.
The Town of Canmore is modernizing some of their long-range plans that shape how people travel, play, and build. Over the next year, they will update three interconnected guiding documents: the Open Spaces and Trails Plan, the Integrated Transportation Plan, and our Land Use Bylaw. Together, they are calling this engagement ‘People, Places, and Pathways.’ Here’s how you can get involved:
Community Information Night
Talk to the Town’s project teams and share your voice at our community information night at Canmore Brewing Company on April 13 from 5:30-8 p.m.
Online Survey
Take the Town’s online surveys for a chance to win a $100 gift card to a local business of your choice – visit mycanmore.ca/peopleplacespathways
BEAR DAY 2026!
Bear Day is on Saturday, April 18 from 9am-3pm at the Canmore Nordic Centre. To coincide with bears’ emergence from their winter dens, Alberta Parks and WildSmart are once again hosting Bear Day at Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park’s Day Lodge.
This event is a celebration and welcoming of bears back on the landscape for another year. It’s a great opportunity to learn more about the bears in our area and to refresh your bear safety knowledge and skills so you are prepared for the upcoming season.
Indoor and outdoor activities include bear spray demonstrations, bear safety talks, a bear trapping demonstration, bear awareness hikes (registration required), bear aversive conditioning and monitoring research presentations, kids’ bear storytimes, kids area with make your own bear scat activities, and bear-related booths and displays.
In attendance to chat with you about all things bears will be Alberta Parks Ecologists, Park Rangers and Interpretation staff, Conservation Officers, Fish and Wildlife Officers, Parks Canada Public Outreach, Town of Canmore, Volunteer Wildlife Ambassadors, Keep Wildlife Alive Ambassadors, Bear Monitoring and Aversive Conditioning Volunteers and Stoney Tribal Administration.
This is a FREE family-friendly event! Activities begin at 9:00 am and end at 3:00 pm. In the event of inclement weather, the majority of activities will take place indoors.
WILDLIFE AMBASSADOR WORDS OF WISDOM
Wildlife Ambassador Derek is back to talk about why reporting bears in the Banff and Kananaskis areas is good for the bears. It helps with both public safety and bear population monitoring. Here's why it's a good idea to report sighting of bear TRACKS in the snow in April each year!
Time to Take down your bird feeder!
Bears will be emerging from their dens soon and we will all be sharing the valley bottoms for the next few months so there is an increased chance of encountering wildlife. Please help try to keep bears and other wildlife out of trouble by taking your bird feeders down and cleaning up the ground underneath! The Town of Canmore Community Standards Bylaw only allows bird feeders to be hung from December 1 to March 31. Click here for details.
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