Bow Valley WildSmart

10/09/2026

🐻We want to say THANK YOU JUDY for all your passion and dedication in helping keep people and wildlife safe since 2018 - and WE WILL MISS YOU!
🐻There has been a decline in bear sightings so some of the warnings that were in place on Parks lands have been removed, and many of the Alberta Parks campgrounds will be closed for the winter season soon.
🐻People should be not be getting complacent as bears continue to be out on the landscape on a constant search for food to fatten up for their winter hibernation.
🐻Bears need a healthy fat layer before they go into their deep sleep; it helps them to stay warm and provides calories to survive the winter. Those calories should not be coming from people and bears will be searching for easy food sources which leads to trouble if people leave attractants out and bears get into them.
🐻A reminder that day-use areas and campsites need to be kept clean, and wildlife attractants need to be properly secured.
🐻Remove or secure ALL wildlife attractants such as fruit (on trees and on the ground), PUMPKINS, bird feeders, unsecured garbage, greasy bbq's and pet food - or you may face steep fines and be responsible for killing a bear!
🐻Male elk are protective of any female elk they are with, and there continue to be reports of large rutting bull elk showing aggression towards people getting too close trying to take pictures or trying to sneak past them on the trails.
🐻Get FREE money! Take advantage of the Town of Canmore’s Fruit Tree Removal and Replacement Incentive Program NOW before the money runs out AND before you get a large fine!
🐻Halloween is around the corner - be proactive and remember to keep pumpkins inside!
🐻Thanks to RNEST Endurance and runnners at the Sweater Weather race for their donations!
🐻Learn about some of the signs bears leave in the forest - in this case "Digs."
🐻Find out what bears do in October plus more in this week's bear report!

Did you know that WildSmart is a program of the Biosphere Institute, a local charity? Our work relies entirely on donations and sponsors. If you would like to support our community-based efforts to promote human-wildlife coexistence, please donate now! BEAR ACTIVITY UPDATE (Oct.8, 2026)

10/02/2026

🐻This past week has been somewhat quiet for bears in the Bow Valley and K-Country but that does not mean people should be getting complacent! Bears continue to be on a constant search for food for the next six weeks to fatten up for their winter hibernation, but that food should not be coming from humans.
🐻All trails users need to be mentally prepared to encounter a bear while out recreating and a reminder that day-use areas and campsites need to be kept clean, and wildlife attractants need to be properly secured.
🐻If there are bears feeding along trails, give them their space (at least 100m), back away, leave the area, don't try and sneak past them.
🐻Learn about the responsible behaviours that larch seekers should remember while out on the trails, and when to stop for roadside bears.
🐻During the rut, male elk are particularly protective of the female elk they are with and they may become aggressive towards anything that comes too close, even trucks.
🐻Do your best to proactively remove wildlife attractants such as fruit trees (or at least the fruit), bird feeders, garbage, pet food and greasy bbq’s so that you don’t draw bears into town and get them into trouble in your yard!
🐻Just because you have never had a bear in your fruit tree before, it does not mean it can’t or won’t happen.
🐻Take advantage of the Town of Canmore’s Fruit Tree Removal and Replacement Incentive Program NOW before the money runs out AND before you get a large fine!
🐻Hunters need to compromise between hunting success and safety in bear country – that means always carrying bear spray and knowing how to use it.
🐻Find out who won Fat Bear Week 2026 plus more in this week's bear report!

Did you know that WildSmart is a program of the Biosphere Institute, a local charity? Our work relies entirely on donations and sponsors. If you would like to support our community-based efforts to promote human-wildlife coexistence, please donate now! BEAR ACTIVITY UPDATE (Oct.1, 2026)

09/25/2026

🐻Bears continue to be seen in the Bow Valley and K-Country in search of food, and they will be searching for easy food sources. This leads to trouble if people leave attractants out and bears get into them.
🐻All trails users need to be mentally prepared to encounter a bear while out recreating and a reminder that day-use areas and campsites need to be kept clean, and wildlife attractants need to be properly secured.
🐻A grizzly bear bluff charge has prompted the closure of popular Kananaskis hiking trails. If there are bears feeding along trails, give them their space (at least 100m), back away, leave the area, don't try and sneak past them.
🐻Read about the responsible behaviours that larch seekers should remember while out on the trails.
🐻During the rut, male elk are particularly protective of the female elk they are with and they may become aggressive towards anything that comes too close, even trucks.
🐻Do your best to proactively remove wildlife attractants such as fruit trees (or at least the fruit), bird feeders, garbage, pet food and greasy bbq’s so that you don’t draw bears into town and get them into trouble in your yard!
🐻Just because you have never had a bear in your fruit tree before, it does not mean it can’t or won’t happen. Even ornamental fruit trees (that typically do not attract bears) can and will attract bears.
🐻Take advantage of the Town of Canmore’s Fruit Tree Removal and Replacement Incentive Program NOW before the money runs out AND before you get a large fine!
🐻Hunters need to compromise between hunting success and safety in bear country – that means always carrying bear spray and knowing how to use it.
🐻Learn about what the bears are eating today (Cow Parsnip) and why you don’t stop for roadside bears!
🐻Read about the Biosphere’s Ongoing Reflections on Truth & ReconciliACTION.
🐻Find out what bears do in September plus more in this week's bear report! 📸Photo by Lisanne Mol

Did you know that WildSmart is a program of the Biosphere Institute, a local charity? Our work relies entirely on donations and sponsors. If you would like to support our community-based efforts to promote human-wildlife coexistence, please donate now! BEAR ACTIVITY UPDATE (Sep.24, 2026)

09/23/2026

Cougar Warning - Meadow/Loggers Loop Area in the Sheep River Valley due to a carcass that was located within the trail network. More info at: https://ow.ly/cW3s50ZQK4h

09/21/2026

Bear Closure - Smutwood Peak, Tryst Lake and Commonwealth Peak Areas due to a grizzly bear bluff charge. More info at: https://ow.ly/C5qH50ZPMkX

09/19/2026

🐻There continue to be steady reports of black bears in and around Canmore and the Bow Valley, and fruit trees in town seem to be the main attractant, specifically cherry trees.
🐻During the rut, male elk are particularly protective of the female elk they are with and they may become aggressive towards anything that comes too close, even trucks.
🐻Do your best to proactively remove wildlife attractants such as fruit trees (or at least the fruit), bird feeders, garbage, pet food and greasy bbq’s so that you don’t draw bears into town and get them into trouble in your yard!
🐻Just because you have never had a bear in your fruit tree before, it does not mean it can’t or won’t happen. Even ornamental fruit trees (that typically do not attract bears) can and will attract bears.
🐻Residents need to step up and start having friendly conversations (not confrontations) with friends, family and neighbours with fruit trees in their yards about the importance of removing fruit to keep people and bears safe in the Bow Valley!
🐻Take advantage of the Town of Canmore’s Fruit Tree Removal and Replacement Incentive Program NOW before the money runs out AND before you get a large fine!
🐻Bear activity in K-Country has slowed down as the grizzly bears are spending most of their time at higher elevations, which are also the same places that many larch hikers are heading to.
🐻With the busy Larch season starting soon, bears will be doing their best to escape the hoards of people out on the trails, so consider leaving those times (like dawn and dusk) for bears and other wildlife.
🐻Hunters need to compromise between hunting success and safety in bear country – that means always carrying bear spray in an easily accessible location and knowing how to use it.
🐻Learn about the importance of reporting wildlife.
🐻Find out all about Fat Bear Week plus more in this week's bear report!

Did you know that WildSmart is a program of the Biosphere Institute, a local charity? Our work relies entirely on donations and sponsors. If you would like to support our community-based efforts to promote human-wildlife coexistence, please donate now! BEAR ACTIVITY UPDATE (Sep.18, 2026)

09/18/2026

Bear Warning - Fish Creek Provincial Park due to several reports and sightings of a black bear during daylight/peak hours within the park. More info: https://ow.ly/3hs850ZPaBn

09/11/2026

We are also seeing black bears in Canmore feeding on fruit trees so act now and remove the fruit from your tree(s) or better yet, remove your fruit tree and replace it with a non-fruit bearing alternative.
There are still funds available for the Town of Canmore’s Fruit Tree Removal and Replacement Incentive Programs so take advantage NOW before the money runs out AND before you attract a bear into town and/or get a large fine! For details visit: https://www.canmore.ca/your-community/environmentandclimate/incentiveprograms/fruit-tree-removal-incentive

A bear warning is in effect for the Jasper townsite. ⚠️🐻

Black bears have been frequenting the townsite in search of fruit trees. This is of increased concern now that children are walking and biking to school.

To minimize the potential of a bear encounter:
🔸 Be alert for bears and actively avoid them.
🔸 Make noise to alert bears of your presence.
🔸 Supervise children playing outdoors.
🔸 Keep pets on a leash. Check for bears before letting your pet into a fenced yard.
🔸 Remove bear attractants (bird feeders and fruit on trees) from your yard.

If you see a bear in town, phone Parks Canada Dispatch immediately at 780-852-6155 (24 hours a day).

🔗 For more bear safety information, visit: https://ow.ly/UhTg50ZLffV

📸 2023

09/11/2026

🐻There are steady reports of black bears in and around Canmore and fruit trees in town seem to be the main attractant (specifically chokecherry and pin cherry trees).
🐻A young black bear has been seen regularly feeding in cherry trees in the Cougar Creek/Eagle Terrace/Benchlands areas.
🐻Bear activity in K-Country has slowed down as the grizzly bears are spending most of their time at higher elevations. That being said this is not a time to be complacent as there are many uncollared bears and black bears still roaming around in the valley bottoms.
🐻We need to work together as a community to ensure that all fruit (including Dogwood, Crabapples, Cherries and Mountain Ash plus more) are removed from trees NOW before a bear gets into them.
🐻If we remove the food sources, we remove the problem! Just because you have never had a bear in your fruit tree before, it does not mean it can’t or won’t happen. Even ornamental fruit trees (that typically do not attract bears) can and will attract bears.
🐻Residents need to step up and start having friendly conversations (not confrontations) with friends, family and neighbours with fruit trees in their yards about the importance of removing fruit to keep people and bears safe in the Bow Valley!
🐻Take advantage of the Town of Canmore’s Fruit Tree Removal and Replacement Incentive Program NOW before the money runs out AND before you get a large fine!
🐻A reminder to campers and day users to ensure you keep a clean and wildlife attractant free picnic area and campsite and Never leave attractants unattended - even for a minute!
🐻Learn about watching for bear signs such as Flipped rocks!
🐻During the rut, male elk are particularly protective of the female elk they are with and they may become aggressive towards anything that comes too close.
🐻Dust off your boots and get ready to Do-Si-Do with the Biosphere at our Fourth Annual Square Dance Community Fundraiser on Nov.13.
🐻Find out what being 100m away from bears looks like plus more in this week's bear report!

Did you know that WildSmart is a program of the Biosphere Institute, a local charity? Our work relies entirely on donations and sponsors. If you would like to support our community-based efforts to promote human-wildlife coexistence, please donate now! BEAR ACTIVITY UPDATE (Sep.10, 2026)