Two well-known grizzly bears have shown up in areas close to the Banff townsite.
Bear 122, the large dominant male in the Bow Valley, and bear 148, the five-year-old daughter of famous grizzly bear 64, were both seen in areas close to the townsite last Friday (April 17).
“The bear season is certainly upon us,” said Mike Grande, a resource conservation specialist for Banff National Park.
Bear 148 was first seen in the Middle Springs area on Friday afternoon. It was an area she used to spend time in with her mother, bear 64, who is believed to have died of natural causes at the age of 24 in 2013.
Resource conservation officers were quick to haze the bruin out of the area, shouting at her and sending a few chalk ball rounds her way.
“We pushed her back from the edge there and she stayed back for the rest of the day. She didn’t come into the town, which is good to see,” Grande said.
“The next morning she showed up at the Cave and Basin at about 8 a.m. and we were dealing with her throughout the entire day. She moved off by the end of the day.”
Parks Canada put up temporary signs at the Cave and Basin to let people know a grizzly bear was in the area, and was preparing to put a formal warning in place on Sunday, but bear 148 did not show up there again.
Last fall, Parks Canada mounted an aversive conditioning campaign on bear 148, trying to teach the young bear to stay away from busier, built up areas.
“She was collared and monitored 24 hours a day. She was displaying much different behaviour – in yards, up trees and very defensive of certain areas,” said Grande.
“This time she came close to the edge of facilities and moved off as soon as we hazed her. It’s nice to see she’s remembering the lessons she picked up last fall. We’re happy she was showing more wild and wary behaviour, as it should be.”
Grande said Parks expects bear 148 will continue to hang around areas close to town for some time.
“She’s only five years old and it’s unlikely she’s going to get bred,” he said. “She’s going to be wary of big males and the town offers her refuge from them.”
Bear 64 spent time around the periphery of the townsite every year as part of her extensive home range and has taught her offspring where to find important seasonal food sources.
Grande said 64 would feed on snakes in the warmer areas near the Cave and Basin, as well as elk calves born in spring, and bear 148 will likely do the same.
“Her mom gave her the lay of the land and she’s been well educated on those seasonal food sources,” Grande said.
“One of the interesting things is 64 would feed on snakes that came out of hibernacula in spring – that’s been a seasonal food source,” he added.
“And when the calving season starts, elk take refuge in areas close to town and that’s another important food source.”
Grande said it’s important bears have access to these food sources. Warnings and closures may need to be put in place at certain times to give bears space and security, as well as for public safety reasons.
“We know how tough a go it is for all bears and we try to give them as much access to seasonal food as possible,” he said.
Large males tend to be the first out of the den, and as early as mid-March to early April is average for this area. Females with cubs tend to be last out, in early May or sometimes even into early June.
Bear 122, who is fitted with an ear tag ID, was spotted travelling one of his usual routes Friday morning, crossing Norquay Road near the Fenlands Trail to head east toward the industrial compound.
“His size and big white claws are pretty telling it was him,” said Grande. “We also had a camera up in the Healy Pit area in the preceding days and he had been observed on the camera.”
Bear 122, first spotted on remote camera on March 19, is an approximately 300-kilogram bruin believed to be about 15 years old.
He is famous for hunting and eating a black bear near Banff townsite in 2013, and more recently, when DNA work confirmed he had fathered at least five young bears in the Bow Valley.
“We haven’t seen him since Friday,” said Grande. “But people need to be aware it’s bear season.”
Bears are extremely sensitive to the stress of human activity. You can help protect these animals by avoiding encounters with them.
Make noise. Let bears know you're there. Call out, clap, sing or talk loudly, especially near streams, dense vegetation and berry patches, on windy days, and in areas of low visibility. Bear bells are not enough.
Watch for fresh bear sign. Tracks, droppings, diggings, torn-up logs and turned-over rocks are all signs a bear has been in the area. Leave the area if signs are fresh.
Carry bear spray and know how to use it.
Keep your dog on a leash at all times or leave it at home. Dogs can provoke defensive behaviour in bears.
Larger size groups are less likely to have a serious bear encounter.
Bear sightings should be reported to Banff Dispatch at 403-762-1470.
