Bear sightings prompt trail closures in Kananaskis Country
Hikers advised to steer clear of bears eating berries
The province is warning hikers to stay off some trails in Kananaskis Country while grizzly bears eat the ripe buffaloberries in the valleys.
The latest closures are in the Evan-Thomas provincial recreation area:
- The area south of Mount Kidd, bordered on the west side by the Kananaskis River and Highway 40 on the east side. The Mount Kidd RV park is not affected by the closure.
- The Bill Milne paved trail, which is popular with cyclists.
The Lowline trail (also known as the Loki trail), which extends from the Peaks of Grassi to the Three Sisters subdivision near Canmore, is also temporarily closed because of bear activity.
- Alberta bear attacks have some on high alert
- Terrifying grizzly bear attack recounted by Calgary man
A bear warning has been in effect for the Ribbon Creek day use area and hostel since July 20.
2 attacks last week
And a bear warning covers the Yamnuska day use area, including the Yamnuska Trails.
Two people were attacked by bears last week in two separate incidents. 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.
John Paczkowski, an ecologist with the province, says bears have been drawn down to lower elevations recently because ripe berries are so plentiful.
- MORE ALBERTA NEWS | Recovery operation for Calgary boy, Behzad Ahmad, scaled back
- MORE ALBERTA NEWS | Learn the 'sneaky' ways of a Calgary Zoo penguin keeper