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Alpine Club Bow Des Arcs Bow Flats Bow River Bow River Channel East Bow Valley Provincial Park Canmore Golf Course Canmore Nordic Centre Cougar Ck/Eagle Terrace Dead Mans Flat Exshaw Gap Hill Georgetown Grassi Corridor Harvie Heights/ Benchland Harvie Heights West Heart Creek KC Guest Ranch Lac des Arc North Canmore Quaite Valley Quarry/ Grassi Lake Rundleview Silvertip South Canmore South Industrial Stewart Creek TSR Resort TSR South Wind Valley Yamnuska YMCA-
What is this?
The above tag cloud is a visual depiction of Zones used for reporting Bear & Wildlife Activity. The bigger the font, the more activity. Click on any Zone to view all related Activity Reports.
Bear Activity: May 27 to June 2
BEAR SUMMARY FOR THE BOW VALLEY
(Banff National Park East Gate to Bow Valley Provincial Park)
For the Period: May 27 to June 2, 2016
Welcome to the ongoing weekly bear reports for 2016.
This year, thanks to your feedback, we’re trying a slightly different format. As always we love to hear from our readers. Please let us know if you have any comments or concerns.
Summary
Bow Valley bears have been sighted being bear-ish (acting like normal bears) around town this week. Bears have been sighted at a variety of places including: Silvertip, Cougar Creek, Harvie Heights and at the Canmore Nordic Center. This summer let’s make sure that these encounters remain positive by keeping your yards attractant free, being aware while walking around town, and giving bears their space when you do see them.
Moms and cubs are also out and about. In a sad story this week, a grizzly bear cub was hit by a car and killed on the TCH, just east of Dead Man’s Flats. Remember to take extra caution and slow down when you see wildlife, especially at this time of the year when there are so many newborns running around and playing.
Current Closures and Warnings
There is a warning in place on the Legacy Trail, between Canmore and the East Gate of Banff National Park, as multiple people have seen bear(s) in the area. As well, there is a warning in place for Quaite Valley, the area just east of Heart Mountain, on the TCH, as there have been reports of a black bear frequenting the area.
For more information on areas in the Bow Valley frequented by bears at this time of year visit our human-bear conflict summary map.
Additional bear warnings and closures are available here for anyone visiting Kananaskis Country and Alberta Parks.
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
New estimates suggest that there are now 1,000 – 1,200 grizzly bears in Alberta, up from the 700 – 800 in 2010. The Alberta government is moving forward with a draft of the 2016-2021 Alberta Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan. If you would like to help with the revision process, the government is looking for input on the draft from Albertans who live, work and recreate in grizzly bear country. A survey is available here until July 15th, 2016.
Photo Credit: Jack Borno
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 bear spray; know how to use it; and obey warnings and closures.
Important Note:
Please do not use the comment box to report sightings of wildlife.
Report all bear sightings to
Kananaskis Dispatch
403-591-7755
For current postings of Bear Warnings, Wildlife Warnings and Closures please visit the following page:
Kananaskis Country - Advisories & Public Safety: Trail Reports