Latest news with #bears
CBC
a day ago
- Health
- CBC
'Bear birdie': Golfers tee off with wildlife in Kananaskis
Bears don't need a tee time to get on the green. When she went to the Kananaskis Country Golf Course to hit the links earlier this month, Calgary golfer Jess Lawson didn't imagine she would be sharing the back nine with a black bear. "We were very grateful for our partner to be the bear on the last hole," she said. "It was like a nice little homage to golfing in the mountains." As a 600-acre open space within the heavily-forested Kananaskis Valley, it's no surprise that animals like bears are drawn to the course. "One of the things that people sometimes forget about is what an incredible environment these golf courses are for all sorts of wildlife," said Darren Robinson, the course's longtime general manager. In his nearly three decades of living and working at the course, Robinson has seen everything from elk and moose to cougars and coyotes on the green. Plus more than his fair share of bears. "There's been days last summer where I literally saw, from in the clubhouse, five different bears," he said. "Some black, some grizzlies, some young, some parents. It's beautiful." 'Automatic bear par' Golfing in a wildlife hotspot requires special considerations. "Keeping a safe distance is first and foremost the thing that we encourage the most," said Robinson. The goal is to minimize and prevent human-wildlife interactions as much as possible. With that in mind, golfers are welcome to bend the rules a bit in the name of safety. "If somebody needs to pick up on a hole where there's a bear nearby, and just give themselves a par, that's great," said Robinson. "Pick up your ball and move on to the next hole." It's called an "automatic bear par" or "bear birdie," said Robinson. "We're happy to give people the opportunity to take whatever they want on that particular hole just to maintain that safe proximity," he said. "And who doesn't like getting a par?" Spotting a bear on the green could be a golfer's lucky day, but Lawson wasn't looking to take any shortcuts. "It can really up your score if you're kind of a new golfer," she said. "But for us, we had a lot of time, so we were able to just kind of enjoy the bear, soaking in the afternoon and then we could finish on with the course." What brings bears to the fairway? Alberta Parks has issued a bear warning for Kananaskis Country Golf Course, effective May 8, due to "multiple grizzly and black bears frequenting the area." With food scarce at this time of year, spring brings bears closer to developed areas. At places like the course, they're looking for vegetation like grass and dandelions, said Nick de Ruyter, program director of the BioSphere Institute's WildSmart. "Golf courses are very nice and green. There's lots of green grass and there's not that much other food available," he said. Bear steals golf clubs from B.C. man's cart 2 years ago Duration 1:05 That increase in springtime bear activity goes beyond the golf course and is applicable on other popular destinations like hiking trails and urban centres. "This time of year, during the springtime, we're all sharing the valley bottoms together," said de Ruyter, a Canmore resident. "There's snow up high, all the available food is down low, and all our recreation is down low in the valley." Come summer, bears likely won't frequent the course as much. "July, August is berry season, and that normally takes their focus," de Ruyter said. "And so they will probably move away from golf courses in places like that." Buffaloberries, a staple of the typical bear diet, grow in human-disturbed areas where more sunlight reaches them due to trees having been cleared. "That can be around golf courses, around campgrounds, trails, day use areas, picnic areas, playgrounds, parks," said de Ruyter. "And so we do still see them near those areas, but for a different reason." Those berries grow around the green rather than in it, so bears will likely stay off the fairway and remain on the outskirts of the course in search of food. "We might not see them in the middle of the golf course as much as we do see them now, but there is a chance you'll still see them," said de Ruyter. Being bear aware Seeing a bear anywhere can be a magical moment, but it's important to always exercise caution, said de Ruyter. "Every group and ideally every person should be carrying bear spray," said de Ruyter, who releases weekly bear reports for the Bow Valley area. The Kananaskis Country Golf Course doesn't require golfers to bring bear spray, but staffers make sure to provide safety tips and information on bear activity in the area as well as contact information for Alberta Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Services. Seated in a golf cart a significant distance from the bear, Lawson said she felt at ease sharing the field with the animal, even without bear spray. "It's a long walk on the 18 holes, so if you're pushing, maybe bring bear spray. But ultimately, if you're in a golf cart, you're pretty safe if you're 100 yards away," she said. There have yet to be any harmful interactions with bears at the Kananaskis course in recent history, and golfers have a role to play in keeping it that way. "What isn't fair is to start scaring bears away with your bear spray because you're playing golf," said de Ruyter. The course's "bear par" policy helps avoid scenarios like that, but according to de Ruyter, the more likely problem to arise when it comes to bears is food. "Chips, hot dogs and burgers … that's a lot more calories than some grass for them," said de Ruyter. "They will choose human food over natural foods all the time." Bears that become conditioned to human food are likely to see humans as a food source, which can create serious problems for both sides. "They will intentionally start hanging around golf courses hoping that golf carts come by with open food," said de Ruyter. "They'll try and grab the food, and then if they continue that, they'll become even more bold and then potentially start taking food out of people's hands." "Those bears will get trapped and they'll get most likely killed or relocated," said de Ruyter. As the saying goes, "a fed bear is a dead bear." Avoiding human-wildlife conflict is top of mind for Lawson the next time she tees off in K-Country. "The mountains are so beautiful, but this is technically their home," said Lawson. "So all we can do is really stay safe and make sure that we're prepared before we go out."
CTV News
5 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Video of drivers pulled over on highway to photograph bears in Whistler draws outrage
A video out of Whistler is generating a lot of anger online. It shows multiple drivers pulled over on Highway 99 to take pictures of bears.
CTV News
5 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Bear encounter on highway sparks anger
A video out of Whistler is generating a lot of anger online. It shows multiple drivers pulled over on Highway 99 to take pictures of bears.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Bears spotted again at Maple Grove park
The Brief A mother bear and her cubs have been spotted again in Elm Creek Park Reserve in Maple Grove. Sightings have become more common at the park in recent years. Experts say to never feed or approach bears in the wild. MAPLE GROVE, Minn. (FOX 9) - Over the 4,900 acres of Elm Creek Park Reserve, it's common to see a variety of wildlife, like birds and deer. But in recent years, some furrier and more ferocious fauna have moved in. What we know The Three Rivers Park District says a mother bear with a fresh batch of cubs has been seen at the reserve this spring. This comes after a FOX 9 viewer spotted this family of four strolling in the park back in 2023. What they're saying "You don't expect to see (them), but apparently they do live here," said Maple Grove mother Sofía Smedsrud. "When come here with my kids, I just make sure we are we wouldn't want to come upon a bear and her cubs and spook them. We love coming here and we are just cautious," continued Smedsrud. And that's exactly what you should be doing, according to the experts at Bear Wise. What you can do Never approach or feed bears, and secure your garbage, bird feeders and grills. If you do come upon a bear in the woods, never run away, just slowly back up and wait for the bear to leave. Keep your kids close and dogs on a leash, too. If you see a bear in a Three Rivers park, please report the sighting to their wildlife department by calling 763-694-7840 or emailing wildlife@ You can also report the sighting to the Minnesota DNR.
Hindustan Times
25-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Ice cream, 'sattu': Animals at Rajasthan's Nahargarh Biological Park get special treats to beat the heat
Jaipur, To shield animals from the intense summer heat, Jaipur's Nahargarh Biological Park has made several arrangements, such as installing desert coolers in their enclosures and incorporating ice cream and 'sattu' in their diet. The dietary plans of the animals have been adjusted to match the season, with special attention given to the tiger and lion cubs, some of whom are experiencing the sweltering heat for the first time. Senior veterinary doctor Arvind Mathur said that fruit ice cream has been introduced into the animals' diets. The sloth bears are being provided with 'sattu' , honey and special fruit ice cream, while deer and hippopotamuses are being served watermelon and cucumber, Dr Mathur said. Mercury in the city is soaring, with the day temperature on Saturday being recorded at 42 degrees Celsius, which is expected to rise further in the days to come. "Special measures have been taken to safeguard the animals from the ongoing heat waves. Desert coolers have been installed, and rain guns have been positioned in the open enclosures of tigers, lions and leopards. These devices help keep the temperature down by spraying water in the enclosures," Dr Mathur explained. He also said that a hippopotamus gave birth to a calf a couple of days back, and extra care is being taken to ensure the mother and calf are comfortable. "Green nets, sprinklers and mud ponds for sambar and water ponds for other animals have been arranged. Adult animals are housed in open enclosures, while the cubs have been placed in the zoo area, where they are a key attraction for visitors," he added. "To help regulate their body heat, they are given ice cream made from milk and fruits to bears well as fresh fruits, honey and sattu. Seasonal fruits like watermelon and cucumber are also part of the diet for deer, hippopotamuses and chital," he said. To protect other animals, such as panthers, leopards, foxes, baboons, and various species of deer, from the heat, water sprinklers have been installed outside their cages, while desert coolers have been placed in the enclosures of tigers and lions. Nahargarh Biological Park has diverse species, including Asiatic lions, Bengal tigers, panthers, hyenas, wolves, deer, crocodiles, sloth bears, Himalayan black bears and wild boars. The park currently has 13 tigers, including seven cubs, five lions, including one cub, three leopards and five sloth bears, including two cubs. The park, which spans 720 hectares and is part of the Nahargarh Sanctuary, is located on the Jaipur-Delhi highway, about 12 km away from Jaipur. It is known for its rich flora and fauna, hosting numerous bird and animal species.
