Bears are out and about in Alberta; stay vigilant and aware of your surroundings
A second bear bluff charge against a person has led to another warning in Kananaskis Country.
This latest warning was released Thursday after a person encountered a bear on the Mount Shark Road in Spray Valley Provincial Park, south of Canmore. The advisory didn’t state the type of bear.
Alberta Parks closed Tryst Lake parking lot, and issued a warning for Mount Shark Road and Mount Engadine Lodge as a result.
A bluff charge is when a bear charges towards a person but stops short of actually making contact.
The warning and closure come two days after a hiker was bluff charged by a grizzly bear near the popular hiking trail Troll Falls near Kananaskis Village. The grizzly bear came about one metre from the hiker.
That warning covers Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park and Evan Thomas Provincial Recreation Area. It also includes well visited hiking spots like Stoney Trail, Skogan Pass Trail and Hay Meadow Trail.
“Although an advisory is in place for this area, bears can be encountered at any time,” stated the warning.
Watch for warning signs on the trails. (The Weather Network)
Bears are out and about
Nick de Ruyter, program director for Bow Valley WildSmart, said it’s important for people visiting the Rocky Mountains to be prepared to see wildlife in this warm weather.
“Bears are awake. They’re hungry and they’re looking for food, and all of that food is in the valley bottoms,” he said. “We’re going for hikes and bike rides and trying to enjoy the outdoors, so we’re sharing that finite space. That increases the risk of encounters.”
De Ruyter said few bears are interested in people and instead are focused on finding something to eat.
“They don’t really care about people and are afraid of people,” he said. “Most of the time, when things go wrong, it’s people that are surprising them and getting too close. If we give them space, it’s a very small chance there will be issues.”
Still, he said it’s critical to have bear spray and give wildlife a safe distance. In the case of bears, it’s recommended to give them at least 100 metres and keep any pets on a leash at all times.
“There should be no reason why anyone gets close to any wildlife, especially bears or elk,” he said. “If they’re on the trail feeding, don’t try to sneak past them. Either wait or find another way, make noise to not surprise them, and travel in a group.”
People can report any wildlife sightings or incidents to 403-591-7755.
WATCH: Crucial safety tips for bear encounters
This article, written by Greg Colgan, was originally published for CBC News. Header image made using Canva by The Weather Network