Black Bear Spotted Moving Through Canmore Backyards Near Eagle Terrace

A black bear was spotted moving through multiple backyards in Canmore’s Eagle Terrace neighbourhood earlier this week, one of several recent signs of increased bear activity in and around the community as animals focus on late-summer food sources.

Video of the bear was posted to the Bow Valley Community Connections Facebook group by Canmore resident Shawna Clark around noon on Tuesday, Aug. 25. Clark said the bear was in the gully behind Eagle Terrace Park.

The park and sports field sit high on the east side of the valley and serve residents in East Canmore, including as a primary venue for minor soccer.

Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Services confirmed it was made aware of a black bear sighting in or near Eagle Terrace that day but said officers did not attend.

“Bear sightings are common in the community and a sighting alone does not typically require a response,” Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Services said in a statement to Bow Valley Insider.

Officials said they had received no information suggesting the bear was displaying concerning behaviour and that relocation was not being considered.

The sighting comes as WildSmart is warning residents that black bears are increasingly being seen in and around Canmore while taking advantage of abundant berries and other natural food sources.

Bears Are Moving Through Canmore

In its Aug. 27 bear report, WildSmart, a program of the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley, said there continues to be significant bear activity throughout the Bow Valley and Kananaskis Country.

Black bears have recently been spotted around Canmore, including increased sightings near the Engine Bridge as animals feed on dogwood berries. Fresh black bear scat containing large amounts of dogwood berries was also found along Canmore’s river trails Thursday morning.

“Dogwood is a big attractant for bears in the Bow Valley right now,” WildSmart said, noting the plant can be found in residential neighbourhoods, along river trails and in campgrounds.

The organization warned that bears feeding on berries may have their heads down and be particularly focused on eating, making it important for people to remain alert when travelling through areas with berry-producing vegetation.

“If you see berries - think bears!” WildSmart advised.

People are encouraged to make noise, travel in groups, remain on designated trails, keep dogs leashed and carry bear spray somewhere immediately accessible.

A Critical Time For Bears

Late summer and fall are particularly important feeding periods as bears consume as many calories as possible before winter.

Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Services said residents can reduce the likelihood of bears spending time around homes by securing or removing potential attractants such as garbage, compost, pet food, bird seed and barbecues.

Officials said there was no information indicating that a specific attractant had brought the Eagle Terrace bear into the neighbourhood.

WildSmart, however, is urging Canmore residents to pay particular attention to fruit and berry-producing plants. It identified dogwood, crabapples, cherries and mountain ash as potential food sources that can draw bears into residential areas.

“Those calories should not be coming from people or their yards as it poses a public safety risk and could cost a bear its life,” the organization said.

Under Canmore’s Community Standards Bylaw, residents cannot allow a wildlife attractant to remain outdoors where it attracts dangerous wildlife. WildSmart noted that a first offence involving a bear feeding from a fruit tree can result in a $1,000 fine.

The Town of Canmore also offers incentive programs to help residents remove and replace fruit trees that can attract wildlife.

Why Relocation Isn’t Automatic

While seeing a bear moving through residential backyards can be alarming, Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Services said relocation is not necessarily the safest or most effective response.

“Relocation may be considered in some circumstances, but it is not a long-term solution for bears that have learned to seek food in human-use areas,” the agency said.

Moving a bear can reduce its chance of survival, officials said, while animals accustomed to seeking human food may continue the behaviour elsewhere or eventually return to the same area.

For now, there is no indication the Eagle Terrace bear has reached that point.

Residents who encounter a bear are advised to give it plenty of space and never approach or feed it. Bear encounters or concerning behaviour can be reported to Alberta’s Report A Poacher line at 1-800-642-3800.