An adult female black bear attracted to food in a campsite in Mt. Kidd RV Park in Kananaskis Country was destroyed, Saturday (Aug. 10).
According to Conservation Officer Randy Axani, the four-year-old bear was found walking into campsites and appeared to find food in a mesh dining tent.
At one point, campers were found banging on pots and pans trying to chase the bear away, but when Axani was on scene, the bear returned. Axani, who was armed, yelled at the bear, which ran off a short distance, but returned once again.
When the bear returned, Axani destroyed it at the site. The campers who had left the food in the dining tent were charged and evicted from the campground.
Bear warnings had been placed in the campground on July 24 after several reports were received of possibly three black bears in the area.
In response to the increased bear activity, increased patrols were done by conservation officers, park interpreters did roving sessions within the various loops of the campground and the campground operator and his staff informed campers of the need to put away all attractants when not on site or before going to sleep.
At the campground, signage is in place at the entrance and exit explaining that all attractants need to be stored when campers are away from their site or are going to bed.
A bear trap was set in E loop in the campground on Aug. 8 to try and capture the bears. The hope remains to capture, attach an ear transmitter and relocate other bears south into the Highwood area where they could hopefully be rehabilitated within the Bear Aversion Program. The trap will stay set up in Mt. Kidd RV Park until further notice.
“This is a very sad and unfortunate incident,” said Axani in a press release. “As conservation officers we are there to protect and preserve wildlife, not destroy it.
“This was a people problem and not a bear problem. All campers need to understand that all attractants, including all coolers, garbage, pet food, empty and full beverage containers and any other scented items need to be stored in their vehicles or motorhomes when campers are not on site or when they go to bed.
“It only takes one reward for a bear to become habituated to human food. There is zero tolerance if attractants are left out and violators may be charged and/or evicted.”
All bear sightings should be reported by calling 403-591-7755.
Meanwhile, in the early hours of Monday (Aug. 12) morning, a black bear was killed in the eastbound lanes of the Trans-Canada Highway east of Lac des Arcs.
According to Conservation Officer Arian Spiteri, the bear was a 100-to 150-pound sub-adult female that was likely hit by a vehicle and died in the median of the roadway.
