A hiker narrowly escaped a grizzly bear charging towards them close to Troll Falls, a well-known hiking spot in Kananaskis Country, as per a provincial alert. The bear approached within a meter of the hiker on Monday, prompting a bear warning for the area until further notice.
The cautionary measures apply to Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park, Evan-Thomas Provincial Recreation Area, and popular trails like Stoney Trail, Skogan Pass Trail, and Hay Meadow Trail, all near Kananaskis Village. The warning stressed that despite the advisory, encounters with bears could happen at any time.
John Clarke, a former conservation officer in Kananaskis Country and head of the Canadian Bear Safety Authority, emphasized the importance of always carrying bear spray and being aware of how to handle wildlife encounters. Clarke highlighted that bears, just out of hibernation since late April, are currently focused on finding food.
During the breeding season in late spring, bears prepare for winter by consuming as much fat as possible. Clarke noted that bears in well-visited areas like K-Country, Banff, and Jasper are more accustomed to human presence due to frequent encounters with people.
The warning advises hikers to travel in groups, make noise, leash pets, carry bear spray, secure food in bear-proof containers, and report any wildlife incidents to the provided hotline. Despite attempts to reach out to the Ministry of Forestry and Parks, there was no response at the time of publication.
Last summer, Kananaskis Country was under a comprehensive bear warning, marking the first Kananaskis-wide bear alert since 2016.