Bear warning issued for all of Kananaskis Country
Bumper berry crop means chances of encountering bears substantially increased
A day after Alberta Parks officials warned hikers to be wary while on some trails and pathways, a bear warning has been issued for all of Kananaskis Country.
"Due to an excellent berry crop this year we are seeing significant bear activity throughout Kananaskis Country and extra caution is advised as the possibility of encountering bears on a trail or in facility areas has substantially increased," reads the warning posted online.
"Please respect all closures and observe bear smart techniques when visiting Kananaskis."
2 recent attacks
Two people were attacked by bears in two separate incidents last week.
A woman suffered serious injuries when she was mauled by a grizzly bear protecting her cubs on Tuesday in the Waiparous area.
A bear closure remains in effect along the TransAlta Road west of Highway 40 near the Ghost River and between Don Getty Wildland Provincial Park and Highway 40 because of that incident.
The next day, a woman cycling in the Canmore area was attacked by a black bear.
She was taken to Canmore hospital with stable, non-life-threatening injuries
John Paczkowski, an ecologist with the province, says bears have been drawn down to lower elevations recently because ripe berries are so plentiful.