The incidents\u00a0were among “several encounters with bears over the long weekend across Kananaskis,”\u00a0Neil Singh,\u00a0Ministry of Forestry and Parks press secretary, said in a statement to CBC News.<\/p>\n
The Aug. 1 incident involved a bear bluff charging two hikers around the Little Kidd Lookout area at Kovach Trail. Bluff charging refers to behaviour in which a bear charges\u00a0toward a perceived threat, but stops short of making contact.<\/p>\n
“The Kovach instance was reported as a grizzly bear, but there are numerous, brown-coloured black bears in the Kovach area,” Singh said.<\/p>\n
On Aug. 2, there was a “close bear encounter” with an unknown, brown-coloured bear, which\u00a0involved four hikers with an on-leash dog, Singh said.<\/p>\n
The Aug. 6 incident involved a cyclist deploying bear spray during an encounter with a grizzly bear in the area\u00a0between Mount Shark Road and Sparrowhawk Day Use<\/a> on the Smith-Dorrien Trail highway. That bear warning is accompanied by an advisory regarding multiple grizzly bears feeding on berries in the area.<\/p>\n Kovach Trail is a popular hiking area located near Kananaskis Village, in the Evan-Thomas Provincial Recreation Area<\/a>. Galatea Trail is located further south in Spray Valley Provincial Park<\/a>.<\/p>\n A total of eleven bear warnings and three closures are\u00a0in effect throughout Kananaskis Country.<\/p>\n A grizzly bear has been observed feeding on a cow carcass\u00a0in the area south of Gorge Creek trail, resulting in a closure from that area\u00a0west to Bluerock Creek Trail and east to Indian Oils trail gate, including all trails and routes within that area, effective Aug. 6.<\/p>\n The Buller Mountain Day Use<\/a> area, including\u00a0Buller Pond Hiker-Biker Camping, is closed because of multiple grizzly bears, including mothers with cubs, feeding on berries in the area, effective Aug. 6.<\/p>\n Bill Milne Trail<\/a>\u00a0from Kananaskis Village to Mount Kidd RV Park is also, with\u00a0multiple grizzly and black bears being seen feeding on berries in the area, effective Aug. 7.<\/p>\n Bill Milne Trail\u00a0remains open from Wedge Pond to Mount Allan Drive, but a grizzly bear bluff charging a hiker in that area led to a warning there that remains in place\u00a0effective July 8.<\/p>\n Another recently-issued bear warning is in effect at Highway 40 day-use areas from Canoe Meadows<\/a> to the Barrier Boat Launch<\/a> as of July 30, due to a grizzly bear with a cub seen frequenting the area to feed on vegetation.<\/p>\n A warning is in place for all Peter Lougheed Provincial Park<\/a> campgrounds, effective July 27, due to “multiple grizzly and black bears frequenting the campgrounds,” according to Alberta Parks.<\/p>\n An adult grizzly bear seen in the trail network behind the University of Calgary Barrier Lake Research Station<\/a> led to a warning, effective July 16, issued for Lusk Creek, Stoney Creek Group Campground, and the research station.<\/p>\n Warnings stemming from an increase in black bear sightings are in place for Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park<\/a> and the Grassi Lakes<\/a> trail system.<\/p>\n![\"Grizzly](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/bear.jpg\")
A grizzly cub in Kananaskis Country. Mother bears are known to show aggression toward perceived threats to their cubs, with many human-bear encounters involving cubs. (Amir Said\/CBC)<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1754603892_886_bear.jpg\")
A black bear eating buffaloberries in Kananaskis Country. Buffaloberries are an integral part of a bear’s diet in the Rocky Mountains and often grow near trails and campsites, sometimes bringing bears in close proximity to people. (Amir Said\/CBC)<\/p>\n