Bears are getting out and about in Canmore and neighbouring Kananaskis Country.
There was a report of a grizzly bear at the Canmore Nordic Centre last week and there are two closures in place in Kananaskis where a grizzly and other carnivores are feeding on carcasses – one at Grizzly Creek and another at Lower Skogan Pass.
To coincide with the emergence of bears from winter dens, Alberta Environment and Parks and WildSmart are once again hosting Bear Day on Saturday, April 9, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Canmore Nordic Centre’s day lodge.
“It’s possible people could encounter bears at this time of year and people need to start thinking it’s bear season,” said Arian Spiteri, a conservation officer with Kananaskis Country.
“The fact that there’s 122 up in Banff and there will be bears up in Kananaskis. It’s just a matter of if you happen to cross the path of one.”
On Tuesday (March 22), a grizzly bear was reported in the Meadowview trail area at the Canmore Nordic Centre. There have also been reports of black bears in the area.
“It was kind of moving around in the area,” said Jill Sawyer, a communications officer for Alberta Parks. “It didn’t have a collar.”
There’s a closure in effect for an area south of Grizzly Creek west of Highway 40 encompassing the old gravel pit, including the access road from Highway 40. There’s a grizzly bear feeding on a carcass.
Spiteri said there’s a remote camera set up in the area.
“We’re not going in to retrieve the camera images because we don’t want to disturb the animal,” she said.
The other closure is the 0.5 kilometre portion of the Lower Skogan Pass cross-country ski trail between Ribbon Creek day use area and Mount Allan Drive, including the area above the Ribbon Creek Hostel to Mount Allan Drive.
“The carcass is almost finished, but there are bears and other carnivores that could be feeding,” said Spiteri. “We want to give the animals an opportunity to feed undisturbed.”
Conservation officers remind people it’s time to start carrying bear spray – and know how to use it – and keep pets on a leash at all times.
“People should be aware of their surroundings,” said Spiteri. “Also watch for tracks. The snow at this time of a year is an opportunity to see that a bear has crossed.”
Meanwhile, Bear Day on April 9 is a great opportunity to learn all about the black and grizzly bears that live in this area. Free indoor and outdoor activities include bear spray demonstrations, bear talks, WildSmart’s silent auction fundraiser, a bear trapping demonstration, and a scavenger hunt for the kids.
Tyler McClure, WildSmart education and outreach coordinator, said Bear Day helps people be prepared heading into bear season, knowing steps they can take to avoid bear encounters and what to do if they do come across a bear.
“We’re trying to make sure people have access to good information so that they’re exploring trails without fear. I want people to stay wild, but I want them to be smart about it,” said McClure.
“There are dangers that do exist, but they are very easy to mitigate, and being prepared and knowing how to avoid an encounter and what to do can relieve a little of that stress people tend to have recreating in the Bow Valley.”
More details on Bear Day can be found here: wildsmart.ca/news/bearday2016.
Bear sightings in Kananaskis Country should be reported to 403-591-7755 and in Banff National Park to 403-762-1470.
