Two climbing routes and a mountain bike trail in Canmore have gone to the birds and are temporarily closed to protect sensitive nesting sites.
According to Conservation Officer Arian Spiteri, two climbing routes near Grassi Lakes have been closed to protect great horned owl nests. The closed routes – You Ain’t Nothin’ but a Hang Dog and Memphis – were closed last week and will remain closed until June or July.
“The nest has been used in past years and while there have been no reports of owls there this year, we’re being proactive,” Spiteri said.
The temporary closure has turned into an annual event, however, this year conservation officers want to avoid any chance of potential conflict.
“One route goes below the nest and the other goes to the right of the nest. There are a lot of other options for climbers at Grassi lakes, so the closure won’t affect many people,” Spiteri said.
Closure signs now hang from the first bolt on the two closed routes.
“They’re hard to miss,” Spiteri said.
It’s common for climbing routes to shut down because of nesting. Spiteri said the climbing community usually respects these closures. It can also become a public safety issue.
“Great horned owls are very protective of their young and have been known to dive bomb people close to their nests,” Spiteri said.
Great horned owls, the official bird of Alberta, usually nest from March until early June. Spiteri wants to avoid extra stress on the owls and prevent the birds from relocating. She notes owls expend a lot of energy defending their nests, which can be dangerous.
Compared to other birds, great horned owls are known as early nesters, creating their nest before the snow disappears. They tend to lay between one and five eggs per year, with hatching occurring in early May.
The Grassi Lakes nests aren’t visible from the ground, however, owl watchers interested in catching a glimpse of the birds in flight will have a good chance at dusk on the Grassi Lakes trail. Spiteri warns the trail is still quite icy and users should proceed with caution.
A second trail closure at the Canmore Nordic Centre is being attributed to nesting grouse after a mother hen reportedly ‘attacked’ five people in two days on the Meadowview trail. Four people were chased by the grouse and another was ‘pecked’, Spiteri said.
The trail was closed on May 10 in between trail junctions 53 and 54, and will likely remain closed until June.
“Grouse have enough stress from predators and defending their nest also causes them to expend energy,” Spiteri said.
Grouse build their nests on the ground, and their eggs don’t usually hatch until early June. A grouse hen uses her body to camouflage the nest, which makes them difficult to see. The small closure is designed to protect the grouse from hikers and mountain bikers, who could disturb nesting sites.
Anyone who has an unusual encounter with a great horned owl or aggressive grouse is asked to call Kananaskis Emergency Services at 403-591-7755.
