Latest news with #WildSmart
CTV News
4 days ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Buffaloberry season prompts bear warning across all of Kananaskis, Bow Valley
An increase in bear sightings and encounters has prompted a bear warning for the entirety of Kananaksis Country and the Bow Valley as of Tuesday (Aug 12). With buffaloberry season in full swing, WildSmart program director Nick de Ruyter says an excellent bumper berry crop this year is cause for the increased activity, leading to more encounters. 'All provincial parks and protected areas in Kananaskis have seen an increase in bear sightings in day use areas, campgrounds, trails and along roadways. There has also been an increase in reported close encounters with both black bears and grizzly bears,' said an Alberta Parks advisory. While there are still warnings in place for specific areas such as Galatea trail and Buller Mountain trailhead, people should prepare and expect to see bears anywhere in the Bow Valley. 'The next few weeks are that really crucial time of year for [bears] to eat as much as possible so they can survive the upcoming winter, so for them it's go time,' said de Ruyter. 'Food is the only thing on their mind and because of that they're not really paying attention to what else is going on around them.' Often growing in areas that have seen human disturbance, roadsides, trails, campgrounds, picnic areas and railroads are prime spots for buffaloberries. 'I think that's part of the reason why we're seeing so many encounters is because people are getting too close and either people are trying to sneak past … and then those bears are either bluff charging to say, 'stay away, you're getting too close, stay away from my food, stay away from me,'' said de Ruyter. Nice weather paired with heavy rains throughout the summer could be a reason for the abundant crop, according to de Ruyter — one that he notes is the first good year in a while. While berries are currently ripe in the valley bottom and Canmore area, de Ruyter says the berries will start to fall off within the next week, prompting bears to move to higher elevations as they ripen farther up. The season can last until late August or early September, depending on temperatures. As bears eat up to 24 hours a day during this time of year, de Ruyter reminds hikers and recreationists to consider checking trail closures and warnings before planning a trip, carrying bear spray, making lots of noise and looking for signs of wildlife, like scat. 'Just because people want to go for a hike, they shouldn't be trying to sneak past bears or push them off their food sources. They need to either wait until the bear moves or turn around and go a different way,' said de Ruyter. 'It's important that people make noise, but they shouldn't expect bears to move for them and they should always be expecting potential encounters.' De Ruyter recommends that every adult in a group carry bear spray in an accessible place and know how to use it and when. ' People have used bear spray on a bear that's just doing its thing, feeding and minding its own business. That's not appropriate for using bear spray because you're interrupting a bear from feeding,' he said. 'However, if you're hiking, making noise, and the bear sees you and all of a sudden the bear starts charging at you [then], absolutely, that's an appropriate time to use your bear spray.' If a bear approaches your picnic area or campsite, this is also an appropriate time to use bear spray in order to teach bears that it's not OK to approach people at a campsite and seek out food, according to de Ruyter. Dogs should also be kept on leash, to keep pets, people and wildlife safe. 'If people have off-leash dogs and they're chasing bears away from their important feeding — their berry bushes — that's not fair for the bears as well,' said de Ruyter. 'This is such an important time for bears for their survival. They need to be able to eat undisturbed as much as possible, so we need to respect that because we are in their backyard.' Closures currently in place across Kananaskis include the Upper Kananaskis Lake Circuit Trail, Bill Milne trail from Kananaskis Village to Mount Kidd RV, Buller Mountain Day Use area and the area South of Gorge Creek trail where a grizzly is feeding on a cow carcass, according to Alberta Parks. Visit WildSmart for weekly bear reports, educational videos, current closures and warnings and online resources. Please report all bear sightings in Kananaskis Country to 403-591-7755 and all sightings in Banff National Park to 403-762-1470. By Leah Pelletier, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Rocky Mountain Outlook
Global News
18-05-2025
- Climate
- Global News
Albertans need to stay aware of wildlife while enjoying the outdoors, advocates say
It's important to remember where the wild things are. For those Albertans getting out and enjoying the outdoors this long weekend, there's a chance you may encounter wildlife, and Hendrik Boesch with Wild Smart was out in West Bragg Creek on Saturday giving outdoor enthusiasts tips to stay safe. 'Make yourself aware,' explained Boesch. 'Talk loud, do a few shouts like, 'Hey bear!' or something so that the animals can hear your presence and you don't surprise them.' Plenty of bears and even cougars have been spotted this spring, but Boesch stresses there are other animals we need to be careful around too. 'We have elk, we have deer, we have moose,' Boesch said. 'We always try to tell people that it's much safer to keep your dog on a leash, keep it close to you because you never know how an animal might react.' Story continues below advertisement Those tips are always a good reminder and hikers like Bailey Porter and her friend keep that in mind. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'We always have our bear spray with us,' said Porter. 'We have our dogs — they make us feel safe — and we have some bells on our bags.' Earlier this month there were two cougar sightings in Harmony, a community west of Calgary. The first was at an off-leash dog park, the second a few hundred metres away at a popular driving range. Liam Glass, who works at Launchpad Golf Mickelson National, tells Global News it has prompted them to take a few extra precautions. 'We have some horns and other things as well,' Glass explained. 'And as well just letting people know that are going out on the course that there have been sightings… call into the gold shop and let anyone know if they see anything.' Anyone who spots dangerous wildlife is asked to call Parks Canada or Alberta Fish and Wildlife to let them know what you saw, when you saw it and where.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Legendary grizzly 'The Boss' and other Alberta bears emerging from winter dens
The Boss is awake and ready for another year of munching grains and tromping around the Bow Valley. Banff National Park's iconic dominant grizzly bear, officially known as bear No. 122, was spotted by Parks Canada staff in the lower Bow Valley on Monday. Alberta's bears typically emerge from their winter dens throughout April and May, according to Alberta Forestry and Parks, and an increasing number of sighting are being reported. With warm weather in the forecast for much of Alberta and more bears leaving their dens daily, the province issued a safety alert on Friday, urging hikers and backcountry users to be careful and plan ahead. "We ask everyone enjoying Alberta's trails, parks and great outdoors to be alert," Alberta's Minister of Forestry and Parks Todd Loewen said in a news release. "Bear safety is a shared responsibility, and simple precautions can help prevent serious encounters." Reports of active bears are coming in from around the province, said John Paczkowski, human wildlife coexistence team lead with Alberta Forestry and Parks. "Some people are still out there skiing and snowshoeing, going to the backcountry. But it's time to, you know, dust off your bear spray," he said. "Make sure you're carrying bear spray [and] know how to use it." Paczkowski also recommends those spending time outside travel in groups, make plenty of noise, manage attractants like garbage and leash their dogs. The Boss was photographed by a trail camera in the Bow Valley on Monday. (Banff National Park) Big males head to valley bottoms to find food Bear No. 122 was photographed by a remote camera on Monday. It's no surprise that The Boss, who in the past has been estimated to weigh 450 pounds, is among the first grizzlies spotted in the area this spring, according to conservationists. Large male bears typically emerge from their dens first, followed by single females — females with cubs bring up the rear, said WildSmart program director Nick de Ruyter. He said the chances of encountering a bear are highest at this time of year, with natural food sources still scarce. "They're hungry, they're looking for food. Because there's snow up high, the only food they can find is in the valley bottoms," said de Ruyter. "So, we're sharing this finite space in the valley bottoms with bears and other wildlife: elk and deer and cougars and wolves and coyotes." During the spring months, bears typically feed on carcasses, grasses, dandelions and other plants, he added. "Unfortunately, green grass and dandelions grow in backyards, playgrounds, parks, sports fields, along trails, along highways. And that's why also the springtime is extra dangerous for wildlife," said de Ruyter. De Ruyter and Paczkowski are among those sharing bear safety information Saturday at Bear Day, an education event happening at the Canmore Nordic Centre Day Lodge. Anyone who shows up can practice spraying bear spray, learn about bear behaviour and watch a bear trapping demonstration. The province says bear sightings or dangerous wildlife activity can be reported to Fish and Wildlife by calling 1-800-642-3800. Banff National Park said area closures may be implemented as bear activity ramps up. Active closures will be posted online.
