It’s going to be a busy long weekend at recreational areas across the province and campers and hikers are being warned to keep an eye out for bears and to come prepared for wildlife encounters.
A bumper berry crop is bringing the bears into a number of day use areas and campgrounds in the province and officials have issued warnings and trail closures in some cases.
Alberta Parks issued a warning for the Kananaskis area on Wednesday saying that a number of bears have been spotted in the area.
Parks officials say the bears are taking advantage of the abundance of berries to help them prepare for hibernation and that visitors should give the bears lots of room if they are spotted feeding at the side of the road.
Banff National Park posted a message on its Facebook page from Wildlife Guardians on Friday asking people not to stop along the road where bears are feeding.
"This is male grizzly bear #134. He was munching on buffaloberries along the Bow Valley Parkway and causing a huge bear jam. He began to exhibit signs of stress after visitors lingered in his vicinity for too long. The signs were huffing, salivating, and paying more attention to the viewers. It's really important that bears are left to feed in peace. The magnitude of their weight gain is directly connected to their success over the winter. Stressed bears who are forced to leave a feeding site jeopardize their health. It's safer for bears and people if we slowly drive past bears without stopping."
A bear warning is in place for the Mount Kidd Campground and people camping in the area are being advised to ensure all items that carry a scent, like garbage, food and toiletries, are packed in a hard-sided vehicle.
An area between the Mount Kidd RV Park and Kananaskis River has been closed because a number of grizzlies are feasting on berries in the area.
Officials say the chances of running into a bear on the trail are higher at this time of year and it is easy to surprise a black bear or grizzly when it is feeding.
Bear spray is flying off the shelves at several stores in Calgary and some retailers have had to restock.
“We were sold out for a couple of hours on Wednesday and we got a shipment fresh on Thursday morning, hopefully we’ve got enough to last the weekend,” said Michael Heuchert, Outreach Coordinator MEC Calgary. “There’s definitely been an increased awareness around bear safety in the last couple of years but this is definitely a peak in the five years I’ve been at MEC.”
MEC has also put up a bear information table in the store to help educate people and Heuchert says outdoor enthusiasts should put bear spray in their packs if they are headed into the mountain parks.
“It’s definitely one of the tools that I would recommend when you’re going out into the backcountry and I encourage you to come on by and see some of the other tools because it isn’t the only thing, you really want to know how to use your bear spray properly and you really want to make sure you’re prepared and remain calm in any situation with wildlife,” he said.
Tips to reduce bear encounters:
• Make lots of noise while hiking or cycling on trails.
• Travel in groups.
• Carry bear spray. Know how to use it.
• Watch for fresh bear sign. Be especially careful near buffaloberry patches.
• If you see a bear, back away slowly and leave the area. Never run.
Anyone who spots a bear is asked to report it immediately by calling Banff Dispatch at 403-762-1470.
For the latest bulletins and trail closures from Parks Canada, click HERE.
For the latest bulletins and trail closures from Alberta Parks, click HERE.
