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!
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!
BEAR ACTIVITY UPDATE (August 14, 2025)
(Banff National Park East Gate to Bow Valley Provincial Park)
Due to an exceptional berry crop, all provincial parks and protected areas in the Bow Valley and Kananaskis Country have seen an increase in bear sightings in day use areas, campgrounds, trails and along roadways. There has also been an increase in reported close encounters with both black bears and grizzly bears. This has resulted in a Bear Warning for all provincial parks and protected areas within Kananaskis Country and the Bow Valley!
Bears have their heads down and are focused on eating berries, which increases the chance of surprise encounters. Always be prepared and on the lookout for bears feeding on buffaloberries while you recreate, as many berry bushes are found along popular trails. Some key things to remember include:
Expect to encounter bears!
Trail users should be making lots of noise to alert any bears in the area of their presence, and do their best to avoid areas where bears have been seen or where active warnings have been put in place to reduce the risk of encounters.
Bears may be more reluctant to move away from their food source.
Be vigilant and look for bear foods and sign (berries and scat).
If you see a bear: stop, speak calmly, and slowly leave the area - give them plenty of space, at least 100m! Do not try to sneak past them and don’t expect bears to move off a food source.
Bears can be very possessive of their berry patches and may exert their dominance. Give them the space they need to forage undisturbed as these next few weeks are the most important time for them to feed and take in these precious calories for their survival.
Bear spray should always be carried in an easily accessible location (not your backpack) and you need to know how to use it! If a bear is feeding along a trail, do not disturb it, and do not try to sneak past it. Wait, turn around, or find another way around giving it lots of space. It is not fair to the bear if you spray it while it is feeding and minding its own business just so you can walk past it. Remember you are in their backyard, not yours, so if they are behaving and doing what they are supposed to, we need to respect that, give them space and leave them alone!
Grizzly bear in K-Country. Photo by Jamin Mulvey.
VIEW CURRENT WARNINGS AND CLOSURES
SOME THINGS TO ‘BEAR’ IN MIND
High-speed activities such as trail-running and mountain biking can pose extra risk as there is less time for wildlife to react and move off of the trail, resulting in an increased chance of surprise encounters. Some tips to avoid negative wildlife encounters are: make lots of noise and slow down when coming around blind corners, over blind hills or in areas with thick vegetation, especially berry bushes.
Properly managing and storing wildlife attractants (such as food, drinks and garbage) is of utmost importance as bears continue to be seen in and around campgrounds and day use areas! ALL attractants need to be secured in your vehicle, hard-sided trailer or bear-proof lockers. Never leave your food unattended - even for a minute - and try not to have too much food out on your table. If a bear approaches your picnic table with food on it, yell and shout to try and scare the bear away, do your best to secure your food; this scenario would be an example of a good time to use your bear spray. It is important that you do your best to make sure bears do not get any food rewards as it could result in bears getting relocated or killed. We can’t prevent bears from walking through our picnic areas and campsites, but we can certainly do our best not to give them a food reward or reason to linger!
During this busy summer season, there have been many bear jams, which puts unnecessary stress on the animals and causes public safety concerns. Motorists should obey posted speed limits and slow down near roadside wildlife - but don’t stop and cause (or be part of) a bear jam on the highway. Keep moving in order to give bears the space they need to feed undisturbed and never get out of your vehicle! The Friends of Kananaskis Country have some great Tips for Roadside Wildlife Viewing for motorists and cyclists.
Ever wonder what bears do in August? Learn all about it from our friends at BearWise south of the border. “August at a Glance: Bears have many ways to stay cool during hot summer days. By August, most cubs are weaned. Cubs can often survive on their own if they have to. Bears feast on ripening berries and may travel great distances to dependable food sources. Bears decipher complex messages left in the scents of other bears.” Click here to read the full article about What bears do in August.
WILDLIFE AMBASSADOR WORDS OF WISDOM
A bear's go-to sense is their nose. Join Wildlife Ambassador Derek to look up INSIDE a bear's nose to see why their sense of smell is 2,000 times better than ours.
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. August 16 - Troll Falls
August 17 - Upper Kananaskis Lake
FOOD FOR THOUGHT?
Fruit trees are the main attractants that will draw bears into residential areas and NOW is the time to remove the fruit before a bear points out the problem. Leaving fruit (such as crabapple, mountain ash, chokecherry and dogwood) in your trees can attract bears into residential areas, putting bears and people at risk. The best practice is to remove fruit bearing trees and shrubs from your yard, however if you decide to keep your fruit bearing trees and shrubs, please ensure the fruit is removed BEFORE it is ripe! Residents can be fined for letting fruit and berries accumulate on trees and on the ground in their yards as per the Community Standards Bylaw.
WildSmart has pruning shears and extendable pole saw pruners and fruit pickers that can be borrowed (free of charge) to assist Bow Valley residents in removing fruit and berry bushes from their property. Please send an email to resource@biosphereinstitute.org to make arrangements to borrow the fruit removal equipment.
These are common fruits/berries that attract bears into residential areas (pictured clockwise from top left); Chokecherry, Crabapples, Dogwood and Mountain Ash.
Through the Town of Canmore’s Fruit Tree Removal and Replacement Incentive Program, residents can get financial help to remove and replace fruit-bearing trees that attract bears into neighbourhoods. The program will cover 100% of the cost of tree removal up to $500/property. For 2025 only, condos or commercial properties with five or more trees for removal may be eligible for additional support up to $1,000/property. New for 2025, thanks to generous support from the G7, the Fruit Tree Replacement Incentive Program reimburses 100% of the cost to replace removed trees with non-fruit-bearing alternatives, up to $500 per residential property or up to $1,000 per condo association or commercial property (for the replacement of 5 or more trees). These programs are first-come first-served while funds are available. Click here for details and how to apply.
WILDLIFE IN THE NEWS
Number of bear warnings & closures in K-Country rises due to bumper berry crop.
Buffaloberry season prompts bear warning across all of K-Country and the Bow Valley.
New provincial hunting regulations in Alberta spark backlash from wildlife experts.
All of Kananaskis Country under bear warning, some trails closed.
In Jasper National Park, your unattended picnic can attract bears and put their future at risk.
Hiker found dead after bear attack in Japan forest.
Visitors warned not to feed bears at national parks amid increase in incidents.
Bears are Back! Be Bear Aware in Yellowknife, NWT.
Young girl survives cougar attack in Malibu, California.
Bears raided a family's fridge, then came back for more in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
Video appears to capture tourists chasing grizzly bear in national park.
AND NOW SOME PAWS-ITIVE NEWS
As part of our Trusted Messengers project, we worked with various community groups to develop conservation messages tailored to their peer or recreational user group. Messages were delivered through conversations, video, social media, or a combination. Below is an example of an infographic we created with the Canmore and Area Mountain Bike Association (CAMBA) to help mountain bikers understand that there are aspects of riding, namely speed, that present additional challenges compared to other user groups.
UPCOMING EVENTS
August 23 - ‘Share the Trails’ at Sandy McNabb Trailhead
Following the success of the past ‘Share the Trails’ events in Canmore, the Alberta Equestrian Federation (AEF) is excited to extend the spirit of trail collaboration and education to Sandy McNabb Trailhead, on August 23 from 10am-2pm.
These Trail Safety Days are designed to bring together trail users of all kinds—hikers, bikers, equestrians, dog walkers, and more—for a fun and informative day of outreach, community-building, and shared stewardship. The goal? Promote respectful trail use, improve safety, and build understanding between users, while celebrating the beautiful spaces we all enjoy. Let’s continue working together to create trail systems that are safe, inclusive, and enjoyable for everyone. Alberta’s trails are for everyone—horseback riders, hikers, mountain bikers, and outdoor lovers of all kinds.
September 11 - Harnessing the Power of Food Workshop
Join the Biosphere Institute and the Co+Kitchen for an event all about Harnessing the Power of Food! Connect with community and food through hands-on cooking workshops that bring people together over planet-friendly, sustainable meals.
Workshop #1: Every Day Meals: Tofu Pita Burger, Pita bread, Salad with Canadian-harvested veggies on September 11, 2025 starting at 6pm (doors open at 5:30pm).
Tickets: $15 (If you have any questions or would like to request a subsidized ticket, please contact Yuka Ozawa at 403-763-1388.)
All menus are thoughtfully curated to highlight international flavours while using locally accessible ingredients. Each class offers a unique cultural experience through hands-on cooking, complemented by prepared items and live demos that showcase global inspiration rooted in our local food landscape. Click here to save your spot now!
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