Bear 106 relocated to Banff National Park
Posted By Pam Doyle/photos@canmoreleader.com
Posted 1 year ago
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Grizzly bear 106 has covered a lot of ground since he first appeared in the Canmore area a month ago, but after several closed calls that nearly took his life, wildlife officials decided to relocate the bear to a safer area on Monday.
Fish and Wildlife officers with Alberta Sustainable Resource Development set a bear culvert trap on Stewart Creek golf course and they caught bear 106, a three and a half year old grizzly, on Sunday.
“The intent was to catch another grizzly, that has no tags or collar, that we suspect is a sibling of 106,” SRD wildlife biologist Jon Jorgenson said. “Bear 106 already has ear tag transmitters.”
But since they caught 106 in the trap, they decided it was best to move the bear out of the area.
“We decided to give him a break and move him out of the valley,” Jorgenson said. “We released him Monday night, in Banff National Park.”
Fish and Wildlife worked with conservation officers from Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation, (TPR), to monitor the bear since summer started.
“Bear 106 has been on the east side of Canmore in town limits, in amongst facilities over the past two weeks,” Fish and Wildlife officer Ron Wiebe said. “We have been working with the bear, using aversive conditioning.”
In the past few weeks, the bear has crossed the Trans Canada Highway several times, walked and laid upon the CPR tracks, and crossed Highway 1A between Canmore and Exshaw several times.
“I caught the bear for its own safety,” Wiebe said. “We were working with TPR as well as Banff National Park and a decision was made to move the bear to a location within its home range. It was taken to Banff National Park and released in a spot where it has been before.”
Since bear 106 already had two working ear tag transmitters, there was no need to tranquillize the bear or handle it, Jorgenson said.
“We didn’t have to put him through the whole immobilization process,” Jorgenson said.
The bear, which weighs a couple hundred pounds, was spared the needless stress, he added.
There is still another bear in the east end of town in Three Sisters, possibly a grizzly, Wiebe said.
The bear that the bear trap was initially set for is a very shy grizzly bear that has been seen a few times on the Grassi Lakes trail and at Stewart Creek golf course, Jorgenson said.
“The two bears, (106 and the unknown one), were together regularly all of last year,” Jorgenson said. “We don’t have any traps set now. In another week we will discuss if we will set another trap, depending on if we get more reports of bear sightings.”
A bear closure that had been set up at Lac Des Arcs campground has been lifted, according to TPR conservation officer Arian Spiteri.
“The closure was removed on Friday,” she said. “It was a closure for bear 106. We also had a closure at Willow Rock campground, also for 106, that has been lifted, since the bear has been relocated. There was also a warning for the bear at Three Sisters campground that has been taken down.”
Bear 107, the surviving one year old cub of grizzly bear 71, who was struck and killed on the CPR tracks on June 6, is still in an area along the Bow River east of Canmore, Jorgenson said.
“We caught her once, moved her once and she was back in the same place two days later,” Jorgenson said. “Right now, she is in a good spot.”
Grizzly bear 105, who has two cubs of the year, is now in the area of Nakiska ski resort. A small, young of the year black bear was hit and killed on the train tracks near Canmore last Wednesday. It is believed to be an orphaned bear that was seen a few times in the area east of Canmore.
Right now, there is a black bear around the Alpine Club. There are also coyotes with pups on the new Three Sisters golf course. Despite complaints of coyotes attacking dogs, dog walkers shouldn’t be letting their dogs off leash or onto the course, Wiebe said.
“People shouldn’t be going there,” Wiebe said. “It’s private property and they are trespassing.”
Anyone walking in remote areas should always carry bear spray, which can be used on coyotes or other aggressive wildlife, he said.
We are now into calving season in the Bow Valley and people should keep their distance from elk as they are aggressive at this time of year.
“If people see what they believe to be orphaned wildlife, don’t pick it up,” Wiebe said. “Call us and leave us the location. Odds are the mother left it there and will come back for it.”
If you see wildlife that you are concerned about, please report it by calling Bow Valley Wildsmart at 403-591-7755.
