Bear Activity: May 6 to 12, 2011

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

For the Period: May 6 to 12, 2011

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

It is spring and the time for newborn cubs to leave their dens and become exposed to the natural world outside. It is quite common for sows to have multiple cubs; two or three is quite common for both black and grizzly bears. Predators are a major concern for cubs at this time of the year and into the mating season in June. Other bears will prey on cubs and mothers can be very aggressive in defending their cubs if threatened.

 Bear Activity Trends

There has been grizzly activity in Bow River Channel, Stewart Creek Golf Course, Lac des Arcs and Quaite Valley Trails/ Campground Zones this week. Black bear activity has been reported at Camp Chief Hector, CNC Trails Nordic Centre, Grassi Lake and Bow Valley Provincial Park Zones.

Important Notes

Please respect closure and warning signage. These are posted for the safety of the public and wildlife. Closures do not typically last for very long – please be patient – the area will reopen once the safety concern is gone.

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