A hiker narrowly escaped a grizzly bear charging towards them close to Troll Falls in Kananaskis Country, prompting a bear warning in the area. The encounter occurred on Monday, leading authorities to issue a caution for the region until further notice.
The bear advisory encompasses Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park and Evan-Thomas Provincial Recreation Area, along with popular trails like Stoney Trail, Skogan Pass Trail, and Hay Meadow Trail near Kananaskis Village. Despite the warning, the authorities stressed that bear encounters could happen at any time.
John Clarke, a former conservation officer in Kananaskis Country and head of the Canadian Bear Safety Authority, advised hikers to always carry bear spray and be aware of how to react if they encounter wildlife. He emphasized the importance of understanding bear behavior, noting that bears, especially after emerging from hibernation in late April, are primarily focused on finding food.
During breeding season in late spring, bears actively seek food to build up fat reserves for the winter months. Clarke highlighted that bears in well-visited areas like K-Country, Banff, and Jasper are more accustomed to human presence due to frequent interactions with visitors.
The bear warning also recommends hikers to make noise, travel in groups, leash their pets, carry bear spray, secure food in bear-proof containers, and report any wildlife sightings or incidents to the provided hotline. Despite efforts to reach out to the Ministry of Forestry and Parks for comments, no response was received at the time of publication.
Notably, last summer, Kananaskis Country was placed under a bear warning, marking the first time since 2016 that a comprehensive bear alert was issued for the entire region.