Alberta Environment and Parks (AEP) is warning people and schools in the Springbank area about a mother grizzly and two cubs that have been spotted a number of times in recent weeks.
“The sighting that we have, put them three or four kilometres from Springbank Community High Tuesday,” Jay Honeyman, a human wildlife conflict biologist, said.
Rocky View Schools said it received a notification Tuesday afternoon and an advisory was sent home to parents.
The school division said it has heightened outdoor supervision at its three schools in the area, west of Calgary.
It’s likely the bears aren’t new to the area, with similar sightings reported last spring.
“We don’t know because they’re not marked, but it could possibly be the same family,” Honeyman said.
“We’ve had no aggression or reported incidents of aggression about these bears. There have been no concerns of public safety about these bears at all.”
Still, AEP is warning Springbank residents to secure any attractants like garbage, bird feeders, grain and any other possible food sources. Honeyman also recommends that people in the area carry bear spray while outdoors.