A hiker narrowly escaped a grizzly bear charging towards them near Troll Falls in Kananaskis Country, prompting a bear warning for the area. The incident occurred on Monday, with the bear coming within a meter of the hiker. The warning has been issued for Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park and Evan-Thomas Provincial Recreation Area, including popular trails like Stoney Trail, Skogan Pass Trail, and Hay Meadow Trail in proximity to Kananaskis Village.
According to the advisory, encounters with bears are possible at any time, emphasizing the importance of being prepared when entering wildlife-populated areas. John Clarke, a former conservation officer in Kananaskis Country who leads the Canadian Bear Safety Authority, highlighted the significance of carrying bear spray and being knowledgeable about handling wildlife encounters.
As bears emerge from hibernation at the end of April, they are primarily focused on finding food. Clarke mentioned that bears typically exhibit four behaviors when encountering humans: running away, staying put, climbing a tree, or following. The concern arises if a bear follows a person, prompting a need to assess why the bear is exhibiting such behavior.
During the breeding season in late spring, bears start preparing for winter by consuming as much fat as possible. Bears in well-visited areas like K-Country, Banff, and Jasper are more accustomed to human presence due to the high volume of visitors compared to less frequented wilderness areas.
The bear warning advises hikers to travel in groups, make noise, keep pets on a leash, carry bear spray, secure food in bear-proof containers, and report any wildlife sightings or incidents to 403-591-7755. Despite efforts to reach out to the Ministry of Forestry and Parks, there was no response from them at the time of publication.
Last summer, a bear warning encompassed all of Kananaskis Country, marking the first Kananaskis-wide bear warning since 2016.
