Bear Activity: August 6 to August 12, 2010

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

For the Period: August 6 to August 12, 2010

The following summary 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.

BEARS CAN BE ENCOUNTERED ANYWHERE, ANYTIME!

Be aware of your surroundings, know how to reduce the likelihood of encounters, and be prepared should an encounter take place. Always use caution by paying attention to signs of bear activity such as scats, tracks, and digging. Make lots of noise while hiking; hike in groups when possible; carry pepper spray; and obey closures.

Education Tidbit

Berry (primarily buffaloberry) production has been good this year and better than it has for several years. As a result, bears are focused on any areas where berries are in good quantities. Their attention is on feeding and not necessarily on their surroundings and as a result may not be too attentive on approaching people. Berries growing in backyards or adjacent to backyards may attract bears into areas where they should not be. While agencies have been focusing on removing buffalo berry shrubs from public lands in and around Canmore, they are not able to deal with the attractant on private land. Please help out and remove these shrubs from your property (especially the plants that are bearing fruit).

Bear Activity Trends

Grizzly bear activity has been reported in the Grassi Corridor, Quarry/Grassi Lake and Canmore Nordic centre zones over the past week. Reports of black bears in the valley have been few but the few reports have been centered in the Grassi Corridor, Silvertip, Wind Valley and Bow River zones.

Important Notes

There have been two young grizzly bears in the Grassi and Quarry lakes area feeding heavily on buffalo berry. Please exercise caution when using any trails in these areas and make plenty of noise where sightlines are poor. If you see a bear, give it the right of way and leave in the direction you came from.

Bear Cautions and Closures

Please report all bear sightings to 403-591-7755. For current postings of Bear Warnings and Closures please visit tpr.alberta.ca/parks/kananaskis/trailreport.aspx