If you wish to report a bear, cougar or an aggressive elk please call 403-591-7755
Bow Valley Wildlife
Canmore and the surrounding area contain several wildlife corridors. These corridors are important habitat for many wildlife species, including bear, cougar, elk and big horn sheep. DO NOT approach wildlife. Keep your distance, for your safety and theirs.
For more information on these species, what to do if you encounter them and the wildlife corridors, please follow the links below:
Making Our Community Safer for People and Wildlife
Living in the Bow Valley means we need to take extra care to keep wildlife alive and our human communities safe. We are doing our part as a municipality by taking leadership to develop an Implementation and Action Plan to provide a roadmap to improve Human-Wildlife Coexistence in our community.
The Human-Wildlife Coexistence Implementation and Action Plan
In March 2024, Council adopted the a Human-Wildlife Coexistence Implementation and Action Plan that outlines a detailed list of actions that advance human-wildlife coexistence in Canmore that reflect the knowledge, input, and perspectives of the community.
In the development of this plan, we reviewed recent wildlife and human-wildlife conflict data and literature, worked with technical experts, and engaged the public to gather perspectives on actions the Town could take to improve human-wildlife coexistence.
The report recommends that the Town continues address seven main areas:
Remove fruit-bearing trees which act as food attractants for wildlife,
Decrease the occurrence of off leash dogs that result in conflict with wildlife,
Install wildlife exclusion fencing around recreational areas commonly used for grazing,
Advocate for the integration of FireSmart strategies into surrounding forest management practices,
Update the Town’s Community Standards Bylaw, Engineering Design and Construction Guidelines to be in alignment with fruit-bearing tree bylaws,
Maintain or increase public education efforts relating to the above-mentioned projects, goals, and bylaws, and
Maintain or increase meaningful incorporation and collaboration with Indigenous peoples and their systems of knowledge.
In the 2023-2026 Strategic Plan, Council set ambitious priorities to address the Town's impact on the environment and to reduce wildlife encounters. The 2024 Human Wildlife Coexistence Implementation and Action Plan is the next step to implement the recommendations stemming from the regional Human-Wildlife Coexistence Report.
The Human-Wildlife Coexistence Report was prepared by the Human-Wildlife Coexistence Roundtable and Technical Committee which consists of elected officials and technical experts from Parks Canada, Government of Alberta, the Town of Canmore, the Town of Banff, and non-governmental organizations. The purpose of this group is to identify strategies to balance the needs of wildlife and humans in the Bow Valley.