Bear Activity: April 28 to May 4

BEAR SUMMARY FOR THE BOW VALLEY
(Banff National Park East Gate to Bow Valley Provincial Park)

For the period: April 28th to May 4th 2017

Welcome to the first weekly bear report of 2017!

Welcome back! We can bear-ly contain our excitement that the bears are out of their dens and back on the landscape getting their bear-ings!

Summary

This summer may have just begun but from a grizzly following a kicksled to bear cubs being trapped in a bathroom, it has already been a bear filled season! At this early time of the year bears are slowly emerging from their dens and, like humans, it might take them a little while to get out of bed, have their cup of coffee and get moving again. They start by foraging for food (not coffee). Their first food of the season is usually fresh shoots, roots, bulbs, and dandelions. They may also be found in the run-out zones of avalanche paths looking for carcasses of animals (bighorn sheep and mountain goats) that were caught in slides over the winter.

photo by Jamin Mulvey

Mother bears will also be emerging from their dens with their cubs. Because of last year’s great berry crops there could lot of cubs this year! Give these new mothers and their young lots of space. It’s time to start being extra wildsmart while recreating. Make lots of noise while you’re out on the trail, travel in groups when possible, keep your dog on a leash, be aware of your surroundings and carry bear spray and know how to use it!

The Far Side by Gary Larson

The Town of Canmore is running its voluntary fruit tree removal program for a second summer. If you would like your fruit tree removed (at no cost to you!) and replaced by a non-flowering variety, full information can be found here.

Also we are heading into elk calving season. Give female elk plenty of space and be extra aware on trails with lots of vegetation! For more info check here.

Current Warnings and Closures

-There is a ongoing Seasonal Wildlife Closure on the trails within the designated wildlife corridor at the Canmore Nordic Centre which are within Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park

Additional bear warnings and closures available here for anyone visiting Kananaskis Country and Alberta Parks.

Additional warnings and closures available here for Banff National Park

For more information on areas in the Bow Valley frequented by bears at this time of year visit our human-bear conflict summary map.

The information above 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.

And Now some Paws-itive News

Check out the new ‘living with wildlife video’!  The film illustrates how there is a culture around living with wildlife in the Bow Valley, described as the busiest place in the world where people and grizzly bears continue to coexist. The film also takes a realistic look at the challenges and the constant pressures wildlife face.

Please remember BEARS CAN BE ENCOUNTERED ANYWHERE, ANYTIME!