BCWild

09/27/2026

A must-watch video.

09/26/2026

Rocky View County is proposing a Fire guard project for Bragg Creek. An open house is planned for September 28th, 5 pm to 8 pm at the Bragg Creek Community Centre. We encourage everyone concerned to come, learn and share their views and expectations.

Below are some of BCW's concerns and requests to explore more ecologically balanced options. The three maps are: West Fraser's proposed clear cuts for 2026-27 in West Bragg Creek, Rocky View's proposed fire guard, and both maps superimposed to illustrate the impacts each will have on our landscape.

Link to the proposed Fire Guard project https://www.rockyview.ca/safety-and-enforcement/fire-services/proposed-bragg-creek-community-fireguard

Bragg Creek Trails Bragg Creek Community Association Bragg Creek & Area Chamber of Commerce

09/23/2026

This is happening in British Colombia but echoing in Alberta, and definitely in Bragg Creek.

After 15 years of beating my head against the wall trying to get documentary funding, one of the biggest funders in Western Canada told me straight up they would never fund my film because it was too legally risky. It was the story of how decades of clearcut logging was leading to massive floods and landslides that were putting BC communities at risk and costing the province billions. That's when I realized I needed to stop asking permission and just go for it. Read the full story at the link in my bio and in the comments below.

09/22/2026

Concerned? Please see our previous post for details and letter templates to raise your opinion.

09/22/2026

Alberta Government is rezoning additional park land to accommodate an all-season resort. Have your say. Send a letter - see the AWA template: https://www.albertawilderness.ca/send-a-letter-oppose-the-removal-of-public-parks-for-private-resorts/ Parks are meant to protect land forever, not to sell it for commercial development.

09/08/2026

09/07/2026

HUNGRY BEARS, BUSY FALL: LIVING BEARSMART IN OUR COMMUNITY
(Article published in the High Country Newspaper, September 2026)

There's a good chance a bear has already walked closer to your house this month than you'll ever know. That's not cause for alarm - it's a sign of just how rich this landscape is. Bragg Creek sits in one of the most biodiverse corners of Alberta, and every fall we get a front-row seat to one of nature's great feats of endurance.

WHY BEARS ARE WORKING OVERTIME RIGHT NOW
From late summer through fall, bears enter a stage biologists call hyperphagia — essentially, an eating marathon. With denning season only weeks away, a bear needs to pack on roughly a third of its body weight in fat to survive four to six months without eating or drinking. To do that, they may spend up to 20 hours a day foraging and consume as many as 20,000 calories, hunting down berries, nuts, roots and insects wherever they can find them.

Here's the catch: a pound of berries might offer a few hundred calories, but a single unsecured garbage bin, bird feeder or backyard chicken coop can hand a bear thousands of calories for almost no effort. When natural food is patchy, that math is hard for a bear to resist — and it's exactly what draws them toward homes and yards instead of forest.

This isn't a story about bears behaving badly. It's bears doing exactly what they're supposed to do. Our job is to make sure our properties don't accidentally become the easiest restaurant in the neighbourhood.

SIMPLE THINGS THAT MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE
The good news: most conflict is preventable, and the fixes are refreshingly low-tech.

- Garbage - Keep bins secured indoors or in a shed until your plan trip to the transfer site.
- Bird feeders - Take them down for the season. Birdseed is calorie-dense and bears can smell it from a long way off.
- Compost - Skip meat, fish, dairy and eggs, and use an enclosed bin.
- Fruit trees and gardens - Pick ripe fruit promptly and consider electric fencing around vegetable patches, chicken coops or beehives.
- Pets and livestock - Feed pets indoors and secure animal feed overnight.
- BBQs - Clean grease traps after each use.

None of this is complicated, but it works because it removes the reward. A bear that finds nothing worth returning for moves on and stays wild — which is safer for the bear and for us.

IF YOU DO ENCOUNTER A BEAR
Stay calm and back away slowly; never run. Speak in a low, calm voice so the bear can identify you as human. Give it space and a clear escape route, and don't corner it. Keep dogs leashed. If a bear approaches a home or acts unusually bold, report it to Alberta Fish and Wildlife (call 310-0000) so officers can respond before the situation escalates for the bear or for people.

A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY, A SHARED PRIVILEGE
We live somewhere special. Foxes, cougars, bears, birds and everything in between are part of what makes Bragg Creek feel like Bragg Creek. Let's keep it that way for the bears fattening up right now, and for the generations of neighbours, human and otherwise, who'll walk through this land after us.

Bragg Creek Wild's work, from the Art Walk celebrating wildlife on Centre Avenue to our newest initiative, comes back to one idea: coexistence is a practice, not an accident. That's why we are excited and privileged to share that Bragg Creek Wild recently received first-year funding from the Alberta BearSmart Program, and we're now designing a comprehensive BearSmart implementation plan for our community and area, covering everything from attractant management to community education.

As a volunteer-run organization, we can't do this alone. We're inviting anyone interested in wildlife coexistence to join us and help shape this plan. No experience necessary - just a willingness to help keep our area safe for people and animals alike. Reach out through www.braggcreekwild.ca or email [email protected] if you'd like to be involved.

Bragg Creek Wild is a volunteer-run not-for-profit working to protect wildlife connectivity and promote safe coexistence in and around Bragg Creek.

08/23/2026

A REMINDER TO SLOW DOWN ON CENTRE AVENUE

A wildlife-vehicle collision happened last evening on Centre Avenue, in the 40 km/h zone on West Bragg Creek Road, near the Elkana turn-off.

This stretch is home to many residences — and it's also a busy wildlife corridor. Animals cross here regularly on their way to the river and back up toward Two Pines and beyond.

Wildlife can seem to appear out of nowhere, leaving little time to react. All the more reason to respect the posted speed limit and drive defensively. It's a small habit that goes a long way: keeping wildlife safe, cutting down road noise for residents, and protecting everyone's peace of mind.

Tips for driving defensively:

1️⃣ Watch your speed. Slowing down gives you time to react if an animal suddenly appears.
2️⃣ Scan the roadsides. Ditches and roadside brush are where deer often wait before crossing.
3️⃣ Heed warning signs. Deer-crossing signs mark known wildlife corridors — take them seriously.
4️⃣ Take extra care at dawn and dusk. These are peak hours for animal movement and reduced visibility.
5️⃣ Expect company. If you see one deer, more are likely close behind.
6️⃣ Use your headlights wisely. If a deer freezes in your beams, flick your lights to help it move along. Avoid honking — it can startle animals in unpredictable directions.
7️⃣ Brake, don't swerve. Swerving can cause loss of control or a collision with another vehicle. Brake firmly and stay in your lane.

REPORTING A COLLISION OR A DEAD ANIMAL NO A COUNTY ROAD:
Contact Rocky View County to report the incident and request animal pick-up: rockyview.ca – Report a Road Issue

🔗 www.braggcreekwild.ca