Alberta Parks issued a bear warning throughout all of Kananaskis Country as of Monday night, citing “significant bear activity” due to an excellent berry crop.
An Alberta Parks spokesperson said the warning covers all parks and protected areas within the region, and noted it’s the only area-wide bear warning in K-Country in recent memory.
For a list of the latest trail closures, click here
Jill Sawyer said the reason is an “exceptional bumper crop of buffalo berries currently at valley level, and an increase in bear encounters on the trails within the past week.”
READ MORE: ‘He chased the bear off her’: Alberta campground owner says son ran to save hikers
“Extra caution is advised as the possibility of encountering bears on a trail or in facility areas has substantially increased,” reads an alert on the website.
READ MORE: Alberta bear experts warn of conflicts with cyclists as woman recovers from attack
Wildlife experts advise hikers to carry bear spray, and suggest keeping it on your hip rather than in your bag for easy access. If you see a bear, you’re meant to avoid the instinct to run. Instead, clump together with others in your group to make yourself appear bigger, speak calmly to the bear and back away slowly.
Sawyer said to be particularly aware in “key berry areas” on and close to trails.
“Stay alert, make noise, travel in groups of four or more if possible, and cyclists should ride slower in areas where sight lines are obscured,” she wrote in an email to Global News.
READ MORE: Bear safety tips – What to do if you spot a bear
Click here for more bear smart techniques
Watch below: University of Calgary Outdoor Centre instructor and guide Rachel Oggy joins Global News with some advice on bear safety when planning a trip into the backcountry.
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