Learn more about what you can do to avoid negative encounters and what to do if they happen. We offer a variety of programs that teach residents and visitors to live smart with wildlife. One of the best hikes I’ve now done in Kananaskis Country is the one to the summit of Grizzly Ridge via Grizzly Col from the trailhead at Highwood Pass. The Bow Valley and Kananaskis Country are home to both grizzly and black bears, as well as other species such as cougars, coyotes and elk. Living with wildlife requires education and here in the Bow Valley, the Canmore-based WildSmart program has that covered. WildSmart engages residents and visitors at community events year round. The information below will help you stay safe while in bear country. We provide specifically designed children's programs for local schools, clubs and summer camp programs. The Bow Valley is home to over 25,000 people. December 1st is Giving Tuesday! Free 2-day shipping on qualified orders over $35. Bear St . Members of our online newsletter "On the Wild Side" receive weekly bear activity reports and, in the winter, a monthly wildlife report. Our workshops offer online and print resources designed to provide young families, newcomers, residents with English as a second language, weekend recreationists, youth, and outdoor educators with the tools to be WildSmart in the Bow Valley and Kananaskis Country. Activities Bear Report Bear Spray Trail Closures and Warnings Resources. This partnership between the WildSmart Community Program and Alberta Parks has run for ten years. We also train enthusiastic volunteers to share their knowledge with their peers by becoming Wildlife Ambassadors, and we undertake Attractant Management to help keep wild animals out of areas heavily used by people. WildSmart has been working with Alberta Parks since 2007 to facilitate this community-led program. Report all residential wildlife encounters to your local wildlife management agency and police department, and notify your neighbors of the situation. In the winter we hold a monthly Speaker's Series to inform residents of recent wildlife research and issues. Remove any dense brush that could provide cover for a bear or cougar and make a surprise encounter likely. Although most are harmless, some can pose a serious threat to both people and wildlife, resulting in human injury, property damage, and/or dead or relocated animals. Dial 911; Town of Canmore Bylaw Services. As wildlife and people compete for a finite amount of space, numerous interactions occur. Located at the Grand Rockies Resort just a 10 min walk to Main Street Canmore. The Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley is located on and operates within the lands of Treaty 7 Territory and the Metis Nation of Alberta, Region III. There’s also a bear warning in Bow Valley Provincial Park where there have been sightings of black bears with cubs. Nick de Ruyter. Bow Valley Climate. WildSmart resources include our Living Smart with Wildlife and Nature for Newcomers brochures, which teach visitors and residents avoid and manage wildlife encounters, as well as guides for how to use bear spray and tips for managing attractants in your backyard. WildSmart is a program of the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley and relies entirely on donations and sponsors. To report a bear, cougar, wolf or any aggressive wildlife in Kananaskis or the Bow Valley please contact Kananaskis Emergency Services (403) 591-7755. Subscribers to our newsletter and Facebook page can post questions, add comments on wildlife activity and learn about upcoming events and volunteer opportunities. Go for a hike! This 2 2 condo (with optional 3rd bedroom) is fully equipped with all the amenities you need for a memorable stay. Colorado is Bear Country Black bears have lived in the foothills and forests of Colorado since long before the pioneers arrived. Bears, cougars, wolves, and elk are all residents of the Bow Valley. The majority of this work Read our COVID-19 guidelines by clicking this banner before visiting one of our parks. Each year WildSmart fundraises to provide year-round programming to over 13,000 residents and visitors to the region. Banff English & Adventure Camp Box 464 . 403-678-4244 Due to rising conflicts with all these species, WildSmart was formed as a year round multispecies education program to increase human safety and reduce human-caused wildlife mortalities in the region. Once a bear gets used to an area that is also frequented by people, the chances of a bear-human encounter increase. Bow Valley Wildsmart in collaboration with Alberta Environment and Parks, continues to communicate wildlife safety and attractant management messaging through education and outreach programs, the new website, weekly bear reports, media engagement and social media posts. Sign-up to receive Bear Report Trail Closures and Warnings WildSmart HomeFace Masks. Vanessa Isnardy Provincial WildSafeBC Coordinator 250.828.2551 ext. The Nature for Newcomers web pages provide wildlife safety information in French, Spanish, English, Japanese and Tagalog. Before you head out on the trails in bear country, check the current closures and warnings. WildSmart Bear Report. Check out our real-time resources, such as the Bear Report and Trail Closures and Warnings, as well a variety of information guides about how you can keep yourself and wildlife safe in the Bow Valley. In the summer and fall our WildSmart On The Trail travelling kiosk is present at numerous recreation events, trail heads and dog off-leash areas to provide on-site wildlife safety information. Banff & Lake Louise Tourism 224 Banff Avenue . Please make cheques out to the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley (note: WildSmart program). Banff Photo Workshops PO Box 3282 . It has since evolved into a permanent program of a local charity, the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley. You can donate online at wildsmart.ca, by mail or in person. The Biosphere Institute implements WildSmart in close collaboration with Alberta Environment and Parks, the Town of Canmore, and the Municipal District of Bighorn. Thanks to Bow Valley Wildsmart for the use of this information Grizzly and black bears are residents of the forests around Nordegg. As a guest in their home, treat these animals with respect. (Recommendation 1) Figure 6. We are monitoring our operations to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and this page is updated as adjustments are made. Although we did not have a confirmed bear sighting, Spring is in the air and bears will be starting to emerge from their dens very soon. Bears become used to human camps, garbage dumps, residential areas, ranches and farms when they learn these locations can provide easy meals. This program educates Bow Valley residents and visitors about managing and reducing human-wildlife conflict. Check out Wildsmart for a weekly bear report and plan your adventures accordingly. Check out Bow Valley WildSmart's online resources, such as the Bear Report and Trail Closures and Warnings. 110 bc@wildsafebc.com Heather Richardson WildSafeBC Program Coordinator250.828.2551 ext. The Wildlife Ambassador program is an award-winning community-driven education initiative that promotes responsible land use and wildlife safety ethics in Kananaskis Country and surrounding communities. The Wildlife Ambassadors are a growing group of trained volunteers who rove trails throughout the Bow Valley and Kananaskis Country to provide wildlife safety information to visitors and locals. The group has also produced a video with subtitles in 10 languages about how to property use bear spray. ... Report bear sightings to Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development at 403 845 8230 For all public safety emergencies, call 9-1-1. From April through November, WildSmart publishes a weekly summary of bear and other wildlife activity between the Banff Park East Gate and Bow Valley Provincial Park. WildSmart leads diverse Education and Outreach efforts to raise public awareness and empower citizens to coexist safely with wildlife. Forced bear relocation. With many more people living and playing in bear country, human-bear … November 27, 2020. WildSmart. WildSmart programs offer local children an opportunity to learn about wildlife safety and share their experience with the public through radio spots, videos and newspaper articles. From April to November, the WildSmart Bear Report provides a weekly summary of bear (and other wildlife) activity in the Bow Valley between the Banff National Park East gate and Bow Valley Provincial Park. The summary compiles information provided by government agencies and sightings reported by the public. If this happens, the bear will likely be found and destroyed. The Bow Valley Hazard Assessment outlines the causes of bear-human conflict in the valley. 11/27/2020 New condos Alert Welcome to Bear’s Den. A brochure outlining the Bear Smart Community program, as well as a technical background report, are available. Mandatory measures are in effect provincewide. This program offers new Canadians, English as a second language residents and newcomers wildlife safety programs so they can enjoy Alberta's protected areas more safely, reduce conflict between people and wildlife, and instill a value for wildlife conservation. We also provide bear spray demonstrations on site at recreation-based events. Participants will join in wildlife safety orientations; bear spray training, learn about the challenges of coexisting with wildlife and gain a sense of stewardship for wildlife conservation in the region. Various educational programs and services are offered to help teach residents and visitors to live smart with wildlife: We develop and distribute educational materials. Build a snow fort or sculpture in one of Canmore's open area or parks; Become a bird watcher! Each year WildSmart fundraises to provide year-round programming to over 13,000 residents and visitors to the region. Applications to join the Volunteer Wildlife Ambassadors will be accepted until 9am Friday, February 21st, 2020. Resource Centre & Library Youth Education Resources Shift Resources Wildsmart Resources Connect. WildSmart is a proactive conservation strategy that encourages efforts by communities to reduce negative human-wildlife interactions. WildSmart was first established in 2005 by a coalition of local interest groups including businesses, environmental groups, and public, municipal and provincial government agencies. Bow Valley WildSmart issued their first weekly bear report. November 27, 2020. The WildSmart website provides information on how to be safe on the trails and at home. WildSmart provides useful resources such as a weekly Bear Report, Trail Closures and Warnings and How to Properly Use Bear Spray, as well a variety of information guides and videos about how you can keep yourself and wildlife safe in the Bow Valley. • Sign up for our weekly bear report at wildsmart.ca Donate to wildSmart! The summary compiles information provided by government agencies and sightings reported by the public. Get traffic statistics, SEO keyword opportunities, audience insights, and competitive analytics for Wildsmart. WildSmart serves all residents and visitors to the Bow Valley, including: The Bow Valley, with its growing human use and location in critical wildlife habitat and movement corridors, has seen numerous encounters and human fatalities. For more information on wildlife safety, up-to-date information on wildlife activity and trail warnings and closures, visit wildsmart.ca . The weather throughout the Canadian Rockies and around Canmore is extremely variable, due to our high altitude and the rugged mountain topography. Contact us to borrow fruit pickers and pruning shears free of charge to remove fruit and berry bushes on your property. Over the past seven years WildSmart has been working in a partnership program with Alberta Tourism, Parks, and Recreation to facilitate a community-based volunteer program. It is also a major movement corridor for grizzly bears, black bears, cougars, wolves, elk, coyotes, and other large mammals. Implement "Bear Smart" bylaws prohibiting the provision of food to bears as a result of intent, neglect, or irresponsible management of attractants. To read more about the Nature for Newcomers program, see: Mandatory measures are in effect provincewide, Southwest Alberta Agricultural Initiative, Crowsnest Pass Conservation BearSmart Committee. Programs will be provided in multiple languages and free child care will be made available to young families. Attractants include natural foods such as fruit-bearing shrubs and trees, as well as unnatural, human-related foods like garbage, coolers, compost, bird feeders and domestic livestock and pets. COVID-19 remains a public health threat. Bear ReportTrail Closures and WarningsBear Spray Face Masks. Wildlife in Developed Areas Interagency: The Town of Canmore and Environment and Parks with help from Bow Valley WildSmart removed Shepherdia from within Canmore, 28 acres in 2018. To report sightings in Banff, Yoho and Kootenay National Parks please contact Banff Dispatch at (403) 762-1470. Today 8,000 to 12,000 black bears are trying to share space with an ever-growing human population. Where: Tailwater Trail between Penstock Loop and the Kananaskis Lakes Trail. Here are some hike ideas, and don't forget to check the bear report from WildSmart! The Wildlife Ambassador program is a community-driven education initiative that promotes wildlife safety ethics and responsible land use in Kananaskis Country and surrounding communities. Started in 2005 after a wildlife encounter with a grizzly bear to the life of a Canmore woman, WildSmart has become a valued and important resource here in the valley when it comes to coexisting with wildlife. We acknowledge past, present and future generations of Indigenous peoples who have been living, working and stewarding this landscape since time immemorial. 109 … Read More The Wildlife Ambassadors are dedicated volunteers who rove trails throughout the Bow Valley and Kananaskis Country, providing wildlife ecology and safety information to visitors and locals. WildSmart engages in efforts to limit food sources that draw wildlife into residential areas, school grounds, commercial facilities, and campgrounds and trails. In collaboration with trail user groups, Alberta Parks and the Town of Canmore, the Biosphere Institute is developing a new program to promote coexistence between wildlife and recreational trail users in the Bow Valley and Kananaskis Country. Document the birds you see and learn how to recognize their calls; Become a … WildSmart Twitter is used to post bear warnings, closures and upcoming events. Grizzly bears, black bears, cougars, elk, wolves and coyotes are some of the many species that call Canmore and Kananaskis home. While in most cases wildlife have no interest in encountering humans, confrontations do happen. Hosted 7th annual “Bear Day” event focusing on bears ecology and bear safety. To read the document, see: The goal of Bow Valley WildSmart is to teach residents and visitors to live smart with wildlife, and engage residents in community-driven initiatives that help reduce human/wildlife conflicts. Sep 3, 2019 - WildSmart Bear Report Sign-up to receive Bear Report Trail Closures and Warnings WildSmart Home Face Masks Nick de Ruyter. Head Office Mailing Address BC Conservation Foundation 1B -1445 McGill Rd Kamloops BC V2C-6K7 WildSafeBC Contacts All media inquiries, please contact bc@wildsafebc.com. Fruit tree removal Sign – Town of Canmore Click on the link below to view and subscribe to the report. Develop and maintain a bear-proof municipal solid waste management system. Volunteers can also apply to join our advisory committee, a group that provides program advice, support and occasion for community input and engagement. There is a critical need for sustained public education, coordination and collaboration among government agencies, landowners, user groups and businesses. Gord Stenhouse will be doing a WildSmart talk about Grizzly Bears in Canmore. bear report From April through November, WildSmart publishes a weekly summary of bear and other wildlife activity between the Banff Park East Gate and Bow Valley Provincial Park. The WildSmart volunteer program provides opportunities for the public to become volunteers by helping distribute educational materials and assist with outreach programs such as berry bush removal projects. It has since evolved into a permanent program of a local charity, the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley. Buy The Bear Report at Walmart.com If you wish to report a bear, cougar or an aggressive elk please call (403) 591-7755. Banff Trail Riders 138 Banff Ave . wildsmart.ca Competitive Analysis, Marketing Mix and Traffic - Alexa Log in WildSmart is a program of the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley, a Canmore-based charity that empowers local residents, businesses and visitors to become active environmental stewards. The Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley is a registered charity. Sign-up to receive Bear Report Trail Closures and Warnings WildSmart Home Face Masks. The Bow Valley and Kananaskis Country saw record numbers of visitors in 2020! Check for weekly bear activity and other helpful information at Wildsmart. Report any Bear or Cougar sightings to: Fish & Wildlife 403-678-5508; Kananaskis Dispatch 403-591-7755; Emergency. WildSmart is a local organization that creates local education/outreach programs and helps to support direct management activities that will aid in increasing public safety and enjoyment as well as contribute towards sustainable wildlife populations. Our goal is to develop a coordinated approach to education/outreach programs and help support direct management activities that will aid in increasing public safety and enjoyment as well as contribute towards sustainable wildlife populations. Our goal is to develop a coordinated approach to education/outreach programs and help suppor… WildSmart was first established in 2005 by a coalition of local interest groups including businesses, environmental groups, and public, municipal and provincial government agencies. An education coordinator with a Canmore-based conservation group says the bears are out in Kananaskis Country and caution is needed.