WILDLIFE 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 wildlife activity such as scats, tracks, and diggings. Make lots of noise while recreating.  Hike, ski and snowshoe in groups when possible; carry pepper spray; and obey closures.

Wildlife Activity

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.

Important Notes

If you encounter an animal (elk, deer, wolf, cougar etc) on the trail or close to you, leave the area. This will prevent the animal from getting used to people. If the animal does approach you, increase your distance. If it persists, try and appear large and speak firmly to the animal. Pick up a large stick if one is handy. Prepare your bear spray and discharge it in the animal’s face if necessary.

Wildlife Cautions/ Closures

Please report all incidents of aggressive coyotes as well as cougar or other unusual wildlife sightings to 403-591-7755. For current postings of Wildlife Warnings and Closures please visit http://tpr.alberta.ca/parks/kananaskis/trailreport.aspx

Following the Pack

Wolf  Research & Management in Alberta

Nathan Webb

Carnivore Biologist, Fish & Wildlife Division

Alberta Sustainable Resource Development

February 16th, 7 pm

Canmore Collegiate High School

Invite your friends Following the Pack Poster

Where the Wildlife Roam, John Paczkowski

In this episode of the WildSmart Speaker Series, John Paczkowski gives his presentation, Where the Wildlife Roam: Wildlife Movement and Corridor Use in the Bow Valley.

In 2001, Canada hosted the G8 Summit in Kananaskis. One of the outcomes of the summit was the creation of the Kananaskis Summit Environmental Legacy, to improve habitat connectivity and wildlife corridors, and to reduce wildlife mortality in the Bow River valley near Canmore, Alberta.

Join John as he takes us through the reasons behind the G8 legacy mitigations, learn what underpasses are, how they are used and by who, and recent research on wildlife corridor connectivity and corridor movement in the Bow Valley.

Listen to Podcast Where the Wildlife Roam, John Paczkowski

Use the following link to view all podcasts:
http://www.wildsmart.ca/resources/multimedia/#podcasts 

Podcasts of WildSmart Speaker Series courtesy of Friends of Banff National Park & 101.1FM Banff’s Very Own Park Radio

WHERE THE WILDLIFE ROAM

Wildlife movement and corridor use in the Bow Valley

Tuesday November 29^th, 7 pm

Canmore Collegiate High School Theater

Free.  Donations welcome

John Paczkowski

Park Ecologist

Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation

In 2001, Canada hosted the G8 Summit in Kananaskis.  One of the outcomes of the summit was the creation of the Kananaskis Summit Environmental Legacy, to improve habitat connectivity and wildlife corridors, and to reduce wildlife mortality in the Bow River valley near Canmore, Alberta.

Join John as he takes us through the reasons behind the G8 legacy mitigations, learn what underpasses are, how they are used and by who, and recent research on wildlife corridor connectivity and corridor movement in the Bow Valley.

A big thank you to our sponsor Alberta Ecotrust for making this program possible.

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

For the Period: October 21 to 27, 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

This will be the last bear activity report for the season. Please continue to report sightings or bear activity should they occur. We would appreciate feedback related to the weekly summary. If people find it useful (or not) or they feel something is missing from the report, please let us know and we will consider including it for next season. Have a great winter and we’ll be back next spring!

Bear Activity Trends

There was grizzly bear activity reported in the Georgetown Zone this week. Black bear activity has been reported at South Canmore and Quaite Valley Zones.

Important Notes

There are still a few bears out so continue to be vigilant. Please be cautious when walking around town and keep dogs on leash.

Bear Cautions and Closures

Please report all bear sightings to 403 591 7755.

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

For the Period: October 14 to 20, 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

Grizzly bear cubs in the Rockies will usually stay with their mother for 3 to 4 years before going out on their own. In other areas, such as Sweden, cubs will only stay with their mother for one or two years. It is rare for a mother to have a new litter of cubs while still looking after cubs from a previous litter. There is a grizzly bear in the Kananaskis who appears to have two generations of cubs with her at the moment. She currently has 2 cubs born this year with her and a third , larger cub who appears to be a two year old. It is strongly suspected that the third larger cub is hers from three years ago. They have been travelling together much of the summer and fall.

Bear Activity Trends

There was no grizzly bear activity reported in the Bow Valley this week. Black bear activity has been reported at South Canmore, Silvertip, Lac des Arcs, Quaite Valley, Heart Creek and YMCA Zones.

Important Notes

Bears are moving into residential areas of the Bow Valley to feed on ornamental fruit trees and other foods. Please be cautious when walking around town and keep dogs on leash.

Bear Cautions and Closures

Please report all bear sightings to 403 591 7755.

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

For the Period: October 7 to 13, 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

We are often asked whether folks should carry bear spray or bear bangers (pen launchers). To clarify, bear spray is intended to be used at relatively close range (+/- 8 m) and could be considered a last resort during a close encounter. Bear bangers are intended to be used when the bear or other animal is still a fair distance from you but not moving off, even though it is aware of your presence. While many bears will retreat when a bear banger is fired towards them, it is important to realize that firing them is considered a ‘dominant’ move on your part. This can result in the bear asserting its dominance right back at you resulting in a charge. So be selective in your use of bangers and do not use them until you have tried other sub dominant type actions such as talking calmly and turning sideways while increasing your distance from the bear. Never shoot bangers down a trail or within a developed area unless you are sure there are no people in the area. This may result in a bear running into someone as it retreats.

Bear Activity Trends

There has been a single grizzly bear reported at the Canmore Nordic centre this week. Black bear activity has been reported at Yamnuska Zone.

Important Notes

Bears are moving into residential areas of the Bow Valley to feed on ornamental fruit trees and other foods. Please be cautious when walking around town and keep dogs on leash.

Bear Cautions and Closures

Please report all bear sightings to 403 591 7755.

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

For the Period: September 30 to October 6, 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

Marmots, squirrels and other rodents hibernate by going into a deep sleep with a low metabolic rate and temperatures many degrees below normal. A bear on the other hand, retains a more “normal” body temperature, has a relatively high metabolic rate and may awaken during a warm stretch of weather. Hibernation for a bear is a response to a shortage of food as opposed to a response to cold weather (Brown, 1993).

Bear Activity Trends

There has been no grizzly bear activity reported in the Bow Valley this week. Black bear activity has been reported at Quaite Valley, YMCA and Yamnuska Zones.

Important Notes

Bears are moving into residential areas of the Bow Valley to feed on ornamental fruit trees and other foods. Please be cautious when walking around town and keep dogs on leash.

Bear Cautions and Closures

Please report all bear sightings to 403 591 7755.

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

For the Period: September 23 to 29, 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

Black bears will typically enter their dens earlier than grizzly bears. With the recent warm weather the move to denning may be delayed. Of course much depends on the weather patterns over the next few weeks. The month of October is typically when black bears start moving in to dens though. Grizzly bears will typically den up in early to mid November. Pending food availability, some grizzly bears have been observed out foraging for food as late as mid December. This is often due to the availability of unnatural foods such as grain on railroad tracks, fruit trees and available carrion from road killed or hunted animals.

Bear Activity Trends

There has been no grizzly bear activity reported in the Bow Valley this week. Black bear activity has been reported at Gap Hill and Exshaw Zones.

Important Notes

Bears are moving into residential areas of the Bow Valley to feed on ornamental fruit trees and other foods. Please be cautious when walking around town and keep dogs on leash.

Bear Cautions and Closures

Please report all bear sightings to 403 591 7755.