Resources
Bear Info and Websites
For more information on Alberta BearSmart and about bears, cougars, wolves, coyotes, etc, please check out these Government of Alberta websites:
www.alberta.ca/alberta-bearsmart.aspx
www.alberta.ca/living-with-wildlife.asp
For information on deterrents (bear spray, noisemakers, etc) and how to use them (including videos):
www.alberta.ca/deterrants-bear-spray-and-noisemakers.aspx
For the Alberta guide on bear safety which includes how to identify grizzly and black bears, how to prevent conflict with bears, how to respond to a bear encounter, information on bear deterrents, and a section on cougars and cougar safety: BearSmart Guide
For kids to help them learn how to Be BearSmart through activities and colouring pages about bear awareness and safety: BearSmart Colouring & Activity Book
Other BearSmart communities in Alberta that provide information or sightings:
- Wildsmart – Canmore, Bow Valley, Kananaskis, MD of Bighorn: www.biosphereinstitute.org
- Bragg Creek: http://braggcreekwild.ca
- Crowsnest Pass: www.crowsnestconservation.ca/being-bearsmart.html or http://www.cnpbearsmart.com/
- Waterton Biosphere – MDs of Pincher Ck, Willow Ck, Ranchland, & Cardston County: www.watertonbiosphere.com
For information on safety advisories, including bears, in all Alberta Provincial Parks:
www.albertaparks.ca/albertaparksca/advisories-public-safety
For the weekly bear report from Banff National Park:
https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/ab/banff/bulletins
(this site also has links to the weekly bear reports for Yoho, Kootenay, Jasper and Mount Revelstoke/Glacier National Parks)
Other BearSmart programs in Canada:
- Whistler BC www.bearsmart.com
- Ontario www.ontario.ca/page/prevent-bear-encounters-bear-wise
Alberta Government Reports
Mountain View County and Clearwater County are part of Bear Management Area 4 (BMA4) in Alberta. Here are some Alberta Government reports on grizzly bears and other wildlife.
(Note: You can search for other Alberta Government reports at open.alberta.ca/publications )
Bow Crow Wildlife District Human Wildlife Conflict May 2020
Grizzly Bear Occurrence Summary 2020-BMA4
Grizzly Bear Occurrence Summary 2019-BMA4
Grizzly Bear Occurrence Summary 2018-BMA4
Grizzly Bear Occurrence Summary 2017-BMA4
Grizzly Bear Mortality Summary 2009 to 2020
Human Cougar Occurrence Summary 2015 to 2018
Predator Compensation Summary 2015 to 2020
Deadstock Removal Program – Waterton Biosphere 2017
Bear Safety
Here are some great safety and fact sheets from the Alberta Government, Alberta BearSmart program:
How to Stay Safe in Bear Country
How to Stay Safe in Cougar Country
Electric Fences and Bears
Chickens and Bears
Bees and Bears
Fruit Trees and Bears
Composting and Bears
Videos
Three exceptional videos that are still the scientific standard (produced by the Staying Safe in Bear Country Society in cooperation with the International Association for Bear Research and Management) are now available through YouTube:
• Staying Safe in Bear Country (30 minutes) provides information to help reduce human injury and property damage from black and grizzly bears in North America. It will increase your knowledge of bear behavior, help you prevent bear encounters and attacks, and allow you to appreciate bears and the places where they live.
• Living in Bear Country (19 minutes) provides practical advice on ways to minimize conflicts with bears in the places that people live. It shows how making a few simple adjustments to our daily routine can reduce property damage and increase human safety. By living responsibly in bear country, both individuals and communities can help prevent conflicts with bears and make things safer for themselves and the bears.
• Working in Bear Country (21 minutes) – provides practical advice for industrial managers, supervisors and workers on ways to reduce human injury and property damage from bears through Field Safety (including employee responsibilities and helicopter support); Camp Safety (including location, design and attractant management); Bear Detection Systems; Bear Deterrents; Firearms; Bear Response Planning.
Zapped! Managing Bear Conflict in Southern Alberta (14 minutes) shows you how to use electric fence to reduce conflict with large carnivores.
Zapped Video
Living with Wildlife (25 minutes) illustrates the culture around living with wildlife in Canmore and the Bow Valley, described as the busiest place in the world where people and grizzly bears continue to coexist. The film also takes a realistic look at the challenges and the constant pressures wildlife face.
Living with Wildlife Video
Two documentaries about the Waterton Biosphere Reserve in southern Alberta where people are determined to create sustainable relationships between people and nature. Sharing the Range (15 minutes) tells the story of ranchers attempts to coexist with large carnivores, particularly grizzly bears. Striking Balance Season 1 is an eight part made for tv series on Canada’s breathtaking Biosphere Reserves. Episode 8 is about the Waterton Biosphere Reserve and features local ranchers who talk about their role in stewarding the land and their experiences living and ranching in the area among grizzly bears. While much of Season 1 is no longer available to stream, you can purchase a DVD from the Waterton Biosphere Reserve or other retail sources.
Sharing the Range Video
Boneyards, Bears and Wolves (20 minutes) tells the story of ranchers attempts to coexist with large carnivores, particularly grizzly bears, in Montana.
Boneyards, Bears and Wolves Video