STORE FOOD OUT OF REACH OF BEARS Hikers beware! Several black bears have been seen around the area, feeding on berries. Bear reports and advisories. A number of ursine encounters have prompted officials to issue bear warnings around western Alberta. - MORE ALBERTA NEWS | Red Deer County to take 'hard look' at marijuana facility proposal - MORE ALBERTA NEWS | Outdoor Report: Sneak a peek at new High Rockies mountain bike trail Special statements: issued to highlight significant weather or express uncertainty. Alberta Parks posted a warning this week after a grizzly sidled up to a tent full of campers. Alberta Health Services monitors approximately 40 public recreational sites on 30 lakes, based on the popularity of the recreational site and water quality indicators. If there is a blue green algae advisory for a body of water you plan on visiting, take these precautions: Avoid all contact with blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) blooms. Keeping your distance and not surprising bears are some of the most important things you can do. If contact occurs, wash with tap water as soon as possible. Bear sightings have also led Alberta Parks and Wildsmart to issue warnings for the Canmore Nordic Centre and the Legacy Trail between Canmore and Banff National Park. Is it normal for there to be that many? For technical enquires about this web page please contact Alberta Environment - Environmental Management Water Management Operations Branch at AENV-WebWS@gov.ab.ca Image: A grizzly bear is seen in this file photo. When the bear approaches, use your bear spray: At 9 to 15 m (30 to 50 ft) fire a warning blast for ½ to 1 second, aiming the bear spray slightly downward. Aggressive bears prompt warnings, force closures near Banff ... in Northern Alberta, after being attacked by a black bear. Is it normal for there to be that many? The Black Bear is an intelligent animal, with the ability to remember food locations and can quickly become accustomed to human sources of food. Following viewing etiquette is the first step to avoiding an encounter with a bear that could escalate into an attack. Share. They are there not only for your protection but for the bear… A clean camp and practicing bear awareness and avoidance are your two best methods of eliminating problem encounters with bears in the field. A closure is a bummer, but at least it’s clear. Alberta Parks has issued a bear warning for Fish Creek Provincial Park, for the area south of Canyon Meadows and westward, due to multiple bears feeding in the area. AMBER Alert. Bear warnings for Kananaskis Country, Bow Lake. Alberta Environment and Parks is monitoring 50 - 60 whole lake sites, including many of the lakes being monitored by Alberta … A bear warning is in effect for the Kananaskis Golf Course, as multiple black and grizzly bears are in the area. This area has limited cell phone reception. It makes us a little nervous. ... How to prepare for extreme heat and get the latest heat warnings and weather alerts. To see advisories there, select “Advisories” from the menu. Parks Canada estimates there are only 65 of these bears in Banff National Park, and 691 total across Alberta. There is a need for U of A field personnel to be aware of bears in the field how to avoid them while working in the field. Located just outside of Canmore, Alberta, Grassi Lakes hike is easy to access without going far off of the main highway. (Alberta Order of Excellence/CBC News) It's a welcome return, said Kimberly Pearson, a nature legacy ecosystem scientist with Parks Canada at … With that said, there are a few tools you can bring with you on your hikes to scare the bears off, you can use bear bells, sing a song as you walk or occasionally shout. Current and past advisories in Alberta parks. No injuries were reported, but there is the possibility of more slides in the area. Bear sightings are an everyday occurence in the Rocky Mountain Parks and being aware that you are in 'Bear Country' is absolutely necessary. I have read up on bear safety but we certaintly don't want to encounter one on a trail! Check out the Alberta Parks site for Grassi Lakes for any wildlife warnings. Share on Facebook; The type of alert issued depends on the severity and timing of the event. It makes us a little nervous. Residents in Banff, Alta. Alberta Parks says an avalanche occurred in the Cypress Hills Region, near Hidden Valley Ski Resort. People wanting to receive a refund are urged to contact the Alberta Parks Call Centre at 1-877-537-2757, rather than cancelling or changing reservations online. Always be prepared when travelling outdoors. We recommend carrying an InReach on your hikes. Photo by Gavin Young / Postmedia Outline­ Bears: The Eight Species of Bears in the World; Distribution of the Black Bear and Grizzly Bear in North America Answer 1 of 11: For those of you travelling to the Banff area over the next few days; please pay attention to the bear warnings and trail closures. People who feed bears are creating problems for everyone. We are going July 20-31. At 6 to 9 m (20 to 30 ft) fire 1 to 2-second blasts in continuous succession, aiming slightly downward in front of the bear's head until the bear leaves. Bear sightings have also led Alberta Parks and Wildsmart to issue warnings for the Canmore Nordic Centre and the Legacy Trail between Canmore and Banff National Park. I've been checking Jasper, Banff and yoho's websites for bear updates and am surprised at the number of sightings and warnings. Please visit Alberta River Basins at https://rivers.alberta.ca. Road and weather advisories. Answer 1 of 13: I've been checking Jasper, Banff and yoho's websites for bear updates and am surprised at the number of sightings and warnings. About Blue Green Algae. National parks in Alaska created a safety sticker to share steps for avoiding an unwelcome encounter with a bear. Alberta Parks said although some areas have warnings you can run into a bear anytime in the backcountry so make sure you're "bear smart" making plently of noise, travelling in groups, keeping your pet on a leash and carrying bear spray. 2. Unlike an official Alberta Parks or Parks Canada trail closure, which legally restricts anyone from entering an area due to bear activity, a warning still allows hikers to proceed. Report on Alberta Grizzly Bear Assessment of Allocation (Alberta SRD) suggests most recent population estimate of 968 bears on provincial land not ‘biologically possible’ due to incorrect mathematical formulae (see 1990). 3 Bear Safety Rules 1. Always use the bear proof garbage bin, keep a clean site and store your food in a bear safe fashion. and nearby towns say far too many tourists are approaching bears and other wildlife in order to get photos, and they worry someone will get hurt — or killed — during the peak tourist season this summer. Parks Canada found that people started to use wildlife warnings to find out where the bears are. ... Alberta Parks and Environment issued the warning for the Bolton Campground, Lower Lake Campground and North Interlakes Campground in Kananaskis Country on May 21 – and it will remain in place until further notice. Estimates population of 500 grizzlies on provincial land (a further 175 estimated in Alberta’s National Parks). Alberta Parks closed a section of Peter Lougheed Provincial Park after skiers encountered a grizzly that had come out of its den long before spring. Go to the provincial and national parks websites below for general trail conditions in addition to warnings and closures. NEVER FEED OR APPROACH A BEAR. Avoiding an Encounter. When severe weather threatens, Environment Canada issues alerts that notify those in affected areas in Alberta so that they can take steps to protect themselves and their property from harm. Police can activate an alert when a child – or an adult with a proven mental or physical disability – is abducted and at risk of harm. To report a bear, cougar, wolf or any aggressive wildlife in Kananaskis or the Bow Valley please contact Kananaskis Emergency Services (403) 591-7755.To report sightings in Banff, Yoho and Kootenay National Parks please contact Banff Dispatch at (403) 762-1470. Scoping out bears. Alberta Parks is asking visitors to Fish Creek Provincial Park to take precautionary steps to avoid a potential encounter with a bear after several of the animals were spotted feeding in the park. Alberta Parks has issued bear warnings for areas of Fish Creek Provincial Park after multiple reported sightings. "It scares me," said Carol Picard, a Canmore resident who has lived in the Bow Valley area for the past 25 years. There are several bear warnings on Alberta trails in the Canmore area, including closures at the Highline and Riders of Rohan trails. Alberta Wildfire Status Map; Alberta Emergency Alerts (can download app on your smart phone) Alberta 511 ; AMA Road Reports; Alberta Health Advisories (water, air quality) Alberta Parks Advisories (includes road closures and bear warnings within the parks) Alberta …