Wildlife Activity

Bow Valley WildSmart provides a monthly summary of wildlife activity in the Bow Valley between Banff Park Gate to Bow Valley Provincial Park. The summary is based upon a compilation of wildlife information provided by government agencies and wildlife activity reported by the public.

Wildlife Activity Report January 2012

January 26, 2012 in Wildlife Activity by WildSmart

Bears are denning at this time of year. Pregnant female bears will be giving birth between mid January and early March.

There have been no cougar or coyote sightings or incidents reported.

A wolf was struck and killed by a vehicle on the TransCanada at the end of December near Lac Des Arc. Wildlife continue to be struck and killed on the highway. Watch for wildlife and obey the speed limit. Be extra cautious in areas where there is no fencing.

Wildlife Activity Report: April 2011

April 1, 2011 in Wildlife Activity by WildSmart

Wildlife Activity

Grizzly bears are currently denning in Kananaskis Country and the Bow Valley. Soon Alberta Parks volunteer Bear Monitors, Conservation Officers and the Wind River Bear Institute staff will be out with telemetry to see if any of the collared or ear tagged grizzly bears have woken from their dens and moved into the valley bottoms.

There has been some cougar activity in the Silver Tip area of Canmore. A female cougar and her two 70 pound kittens have been seen feeding on a deer carcass. Officials did not receive reports of the cougar in the area until several days after the first sighting. To increase safety and awareness in our community, please report cougar sightings. If a carcass is found near residential areas, officers will often move it to a more secluded area for the cat to continue feeding.

This is the time of year that deer populations are most food stressed. The hard crusted snow makes it difficult for them to access vegetation. Often this leads deer to come closer to town and feed in residential areas. Please give them lots of space and walk pets on leash.

Wildlife Activity Report: March 2011

February 24, 2011 in Wildlife Activity by WildSmart

Wildlife Activity

There have been several sightings of coyotes in the Cougar Creek residential area (near Elizabeth Rummel, Grizzly Crescent, Silvertip Crescent). Please ensure dog food, garbage, recycling and other wildlife attractants are removed from your property. Food scraps left out for birds and rabbits are also an attractant for coyotes.

There was one cougar sighting in southeast Canmore in February. A local wildlife tracker recently found cougar tracks in the Three Sisters and Wind Valley areas. He noted that when the weather is cold and snow deep, ungulates prefer south-facing, wind blown slopes. Wind Ridge and Pigeon Mountain offer these advantages and have traditionally been great places for them in the past. The slopes along the north side of the Bow Valley, Mt Lady McDonald and Grotto Mountain are typically used by wintering ungulates and as a result receive increased use by carnivores. Golf courses in the valley also provide good foraging areas and afford a level of predation protection due to human presence.

Skoki, a collared wolf who frequents Banff National Park, has been spending a significant amount of time in the Kananaskis Valley, but has yet to make an appearance in the Bow Valley.

Wildlife Activity Report: February 2011

January 28, 2011 in Wildlife Activity by WildSmart

There have been numerous reports in the past few weeks of a coyote with an injured leg near the Canmore Nordic Centre.

A cougar killed a big horn sheep in one of the day use areas. Please continue to keep dogs on leash as they may be attracted to the scent of carcasses.

Elk have been seen on and near the Trans Canada highway recently. The cattle guards filled with snow from recent snowfall and elk were able to travel over them and access areas adjacent to the highway. The cattle guards have been cleared but drivers should be aware that elk and deer may gain access to areas of the highway that have been fenced. Always watch for wildlife and drive the speed limit as you travel through the Bow Valley.

Wildlife Activity Report: January 2011

January 6, 2011 in Wildlife Activity by WildSmart

There have been no reports of bears in the Bow Valley in recent weeks and we are well into the winter season. The exact timing of denning varies with sex, age, reproductive status, location, weather. Bears tend to search out an appropriate den location when food resources diminish, temperatures drop, snow falls, and daylight becomes shorter. Time to excavate a den. Bear sightings in January are rare although they have been reported. Winter recreationists should still be aware of their surroundings, make noise and keep bear spray close and in a warm location in case of conflict with other wildlife such as coyotes and cougars.

No sightings of cougars or coyotes have been reported recently. Both coyote and cougars are active in the winter and move through the Bow Valley frequently in search of food sources such as deer and elk. In the past, both species have been known to take off-leash dogs. Keep pets and children close by when in your yard and on the trail.

Wildlife Activity Report: December 2010

December 1, 2010 in Wildlife Activity by WildSmart

Wildlife activity in the valley is relatively quiet from the perspective of interactions and people. However outdoor enthusiasts should be aware that in the winter there is considerable use of the trails in and around Canmore by people and other species such as cougars, coyotes and ungulates.

Wildlife Activity Report

June 24, 2010 in Wildlife Activity by WildSmart

Wildlife Activity
It appears the spring/summer season is behind by 2- 3 weeks. Please continue to expect to encounter ungulates, particularly elk and deer, with newborn calves. Over the past few weeks, we have been receiving reports of aggressive encounters with elk and of orphaned or injured deer fawns. Give these animals space as they can be quite protective of their young, and may perceive you to be a threat. Newborns will spend much time alone in their early days and will appear lifeless in order to avoid detection by predators. Hence, the well-meaning reports received by the public that a fawn has been ‘orphaned’ or is injured. Please do not touch or approach these calves, as they have likely been left alone while their mother continues to feed nearby. Off leash dogs can easily kill newborn calves. Please keep your dogs on a leash.
Birds are also still nesting at this time. Off-leash or free-ranging cats are responsible for a large portion of young bird mortality. Please keep your cats indoors.
Incidents of deer and elk mortality on the highways have been occurring on a regular basis throughout the Bow Valley. Obey speed limits and watch for wildlife on the roads.

Wildlife Activity: April 30 – May 28, 2010

April 30, 2010 in Wildlife Activity by WildSmart

There continue to be cougar sightings in the valley, the most recent in the Rundleview area of Canmore. There have also been reports in Rundleview of coyotes closing distance on people, particularly those with dogs. Be aggressive with any coyote encounter by making yourself appear large and waving a stick at the animal. Carry bear spray and discharge it at the animal if possible. As wildlife such as elk and deer begin to have their young, give them a wide birth as they will be particularly protective of their young at this time of year.

Wildlife Activity: two weeks preceding April 9, 2010

April 9, 2010 in Wildlife Activity by WildSmart

Bear tracks have been observed in the north side of the valley between Canmore and Harvie Heights. A cougar was approaching dogs (off leash) in the Cougar Creek area. This area has been closed until further notice.

Wildlife Activity: two weeks preceding March 12, 2010

March 12, 2010 in Wildlife Activity by WildSmart

Wildlife activity in the valley is relatively quiet from the perspective of interactions with people. Coyote sightings continue to occur but there have been no unusual interactions reported. Bear tracks were observed in the Pigeon Mountain area last week. Its not clear if this bear will go back into its den or not. This does serve as a reminder to be aware of wildlife activity at any time of the year.

Wildlife Activity

Wildlife Activity Report January 2012

Wildlife Activity Report: April 2011

Wildlife Activity Report: March 2011

Wildlife Activity Report: February 2011

Wildlife Activity Report: January 2011

Wildlife Activity Report: December 2010

Wildlife Activity Report

Wildlife Activity: April 30 – May 28, 2010

Wildlife Activity: two weeks preceding April 9, 2010

Wildlife Activity: two weeks preceding March 12, 2010

Reports & Posts

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Wildlife Activity

Reports & Posts

Reference

Activity by Zones