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Home > Explore Canmore & Kananaskis > Playing it Safe: Weather & Wildlife

Playing it Safe: Weather & Wildlife

The wildlands of Canmore, Kananaskis, Banff and the mountain parks are definitely wild. Despite the trappings and creature comforts we have brought with us, it is paramount that we do not allow ourselves to forget that we are in fact interlopers, fragile by nature, and small of stature. Roving freely amidst the majesty and splendor of Alberta’s Canadian Rockies, the forces of nature are very real and always close. It is difficult for those who only visit occasionally to appreciate the swiftness and the severity with which these forces can come into play.

The Elements

Changeable and predictably unpredictable are words that very aptly describe the character of mountain weather. Changes in the elements are often rapid and extreme. Temperature variances from 30° to 40° (Celsius or Fahrenheit) occurring within a 20 minute to 1 hour span are extreme, quite possibly deadly. Does it happen? In a word, yes. A casual stroll or light day hike can easily become an epic undertaking for the unprepared. Walking, hiking, biking, riding, fishing, etc., can all become uncomfortable and possibly dangerous due to extreme changes in the elements. Solution: Be prepared!

It is not unusual to set out for a medium distance hike of say 4 to 5 hours round trip on a beautiful sunny day, arrive at the destination or turn around point where you meet folks that are dressed in shorts and t-shirts, equipped with a small fanny pack to carry a sandwich and a drink. This is a formula for a potential disaster. They have completely underestimated the capacity of the mountains to switch swiftly from extreme to extreme, and hypothermia (lowering of the body’s core temperature), based on their lack of clothing, is a real possibility. Based on the lack of any backpack, it is safe to say that they are ill equipped to handle most any number of possible situations they could face.

Being Prepared

Naturally there are varying degrees of what constitutes adequate preparedness, and certainly the nature of your activity will determine what is actually essential. So what is basic? We recommend the following for walks, and light to moderate hikes:

• Consider your personal physiology and general condition relative to your choice of trip.
• Acquire the best information possible regarding the trail of your choice including directions, conditions, trail maps or guidebooks, compass (only if you know how to navigate with one), or GPS.
• Evaluate current weather forecasts and project decreases in temperature against forecasts based on elevation gain of your selected trip route. Regardless of trip duration, carry an effective noise maker (air horn or other device), as well as bear spray.
• Bear spray is a powerful deterrent effective on most, if not all, large North American mammals.
• A comfortable backpack (1 for each member of your party is recommended) Summer contents – extra layer of clothing (micro fleece),
  polypropylene underwear (1 hour or more off trail), extra wool socks, wool gloves, knitted hat, breathable waterproof garment (jacket and pants) and reflective blanket.
• Inadequate footwear has ruined more hiking trips than you can shake a walking stick at. Most walks and light hikes can be done with cross trainers or day walkers (no shank), while for moderate hikes you may want to consider an ankle high half shank day hiker. Select a breathable shoe for most versatility, and foot comfort. If you are doing any advanced hikes and/or scrambling, you should not be getting your advice here.
• A general support kit for your backpack should include nonessential gear: pen knife, matches (butane lighters can be a problem to light when cold), water proof bags for garments, energy bars, fresh water.
• Compact first aid kit including antibacterial wash (peroxide or other), band aids, blister patches (moleskin or second skin), mild pain killer (caution: Aspirin is an anti-coagulant and can impede the clotting process), compresses, etc., waterproof flashlight, small mirror.
• Advise someone of your selected destination and projected return time. If you take this precaution, be sure to stick to the plan.
• Obey trail closures.

Bugs

Myth: “Canada” has wicked numbers of blood thirsty bugs just dying to take a bite out of your outdoor pleasure.

Fact – Canada is a big place, and while some parts of the country are notorious for clouds of tiny “no see-ums” and “black flies”, that is not the case for the entire land mass.

Flying Insects

We do not have black flies in the Canadian Rockies, and in general rarely have much for mosquitoes, the exception being in years that have a wet spring. We often expect a late winter storm towards the end of June or very early in July, and this generally cures any potential mosquito problem for the year. Midsummer in the sub-alpine and alpine areas one can expect to meet the B-52 of the biting bug world, the deer fly (much like an overgrown horsefly) a slow flying persistent critter. These guys do not sting, they bite. Fortunately they do not travel in swarms, they make easy targets, and have a healthy respect for mild bug repellents.

Ticks

Particularly pesky and prevalent in spring, the area does have ticks. Walkers and hikers accessing the trails predominantly (but not limited to) on the north side of the Bow Valley at lower elevations (montane region), in the early spring months of late March through the end of June need to pay close attention to their attire and should do a thorough post trip body inspection, starting with a quick once over examination of clothing surfaces, followed up by a more detailed inspection once out of the public eye. Particular attention should be given to parts of the body that have significant hair coverage. Fact is, regardless of the time of year or the location hiked, this routine is a good idea after hiking any time. Ticks are repelled effectively by aggressive bug repellents with a high DEET content.

The Animals

Of the many things that we find powerfully attractive in Alberta’s Canadian Rockies, the large mammals command the most attention from man. Our list of resident large mammals includes both predator and prey species. Prey species such as deer, elk and moose, can be every bit as dangerous to man as the predator species are capable of being, even if only because of their sheer power, and weight.

Often our desire to savor or capture the experience of our “wildlife encounter” will overpower our common sense, and possibly our survival instincts. All wild animals are just that–wild! Although seemingly tolerant of our presence in close proximity, large mammals are much stronger and tougher than we are, and close encounters with any wildlife (regardless of the species) should be avoided certainly for their survival, if not out of concern for our own.

Large animals who call the area home include white tail deer, mule deer, elk, moose, big horn sheep, mountain goats, black bear, grizzly bear, cougar, lynx, bobcat, wolverine, coyote and wolf.

A visit to the forested wildlands of the Rockies is for many a bittersweet combination of absolute awe coupled with what for many, amounts to a crippling fear which makes it difficult to take pleasure from an outing on even the shortest of forested trails. The reality is, by and large Homo Sapiens, for whatever reason, are largely respected and in fact feared by most large mammalian species on this continent. There are situations that occur which alter this natural predisposition to avoid contact with man. Invariably these are the direct result of our (mankind’s) actions.

How do I stay safe?

The following are basic guidelines and do not guarantee your safety with respect to interaction with wildlife.

• Encounters with all wildlife species are generally avoidable when walking or hiking, provided we allow the animals enough time to make a graceful exit. By alerting them of our approach well in advance we create that opportunity. Prevention of an encounter is always the best approach.
• Seek current information about known wildlife movement in the area of your planned walk or hike. In Canmore, visit the Canmore Visitor Information Centre for updated information.
• Take trail closures and warnings seriously. If an area is closed, do not enter.
• Bear spray is a powerful defensive tool, and proven as an effective deterrent. It does work on all mammals. Acquire it, learn how to deploy it, carry it, and when hiking position it where you can access it efficiently.
• Compressed air noisemakers are very effective at giving animals enough warning of your approach, enabling them the lead time to make their escape. The human voice carries a lot of clout. Use it to announce your presence – it is far superior to bear bells. Don’t be shy when you use your voice; your objective is to be heard.
• Do not feed wildlife at any time under any circumstances. You are endangering the life of the animal as well as your own, or possibly someone else's.
• Even non-predator species can be dangerous. Maintain a minimum distance of 50 yards between yourself and animals.
• For predator species increase distances to a minimum of 100 yards. Try to maintain greater than minimum distances. Remember, most negative wildlife encounters are the result of the animal feeling threatened and reacting defensively.
• Keep small children close while in densely forested areas.
• Avoid using forest, and wildland trails on a solo basis.
• Hikers accompanied by that loyal best friend need to heed the knowledge base – keep Fido on a leash. Naturally we all own the smartest best dog in the world, and of course he is the best woods smart doggie going. In most Parks and Protected Areas, Fido is required to be attached to you.

A bit of woods wisdom

When mammalian predators (including man) hunt, it is natural to assure the wind is in your face. This increases the odds of success immeasurable. A predator that hunts with the wind at its back is often a predator that goes hungry.

Wind

When you are hiking, pay close attention to the wind direction. The wind in your face should tell you to become noticeably louder, and considerably more attuned to your surroundings. The wind at your back assists in broadcasting your presence very effectively to all wildlife ahead of you as most wild animals literally abhor the scent of man. This step coupled with the use of your voice or other means of noise making, will definitely reduce your chances of seeing any animals at close quarters.

Water

Be particularly loud when traveling beside creeks and streams. Generally your voice will not carry as well, and so you are in effect competing to be heard over the sound of the water. As well, vegetation tends to be fuller along water courses further dampening the ability of sound to be projected effectively.

Read the signs

As you walk or hike, pay close attention to the environment you are in. Most mammals communicate effectively with each other by leaving lots of information along the way. Male deer, elk and moose all display for each other during the fall rutting season by “rubbing” – a process of thrashing trees and miscellaneous flora with their antlers. Highly visible to the informed, many people miss these signs, and risk stumbling into a large mammal in a state of high agitation. Willow bushes and other small trees and even large trees bearing obvious signs of abuse, such as bark being peeled off, shredded or broken limbs and branches signify the presence of a large mammal with some kind of an “attitude thing” happening. Freshly shredded or relocated deadfall (fallen dead trees found throughout our forests) is usually a strong visual indicator that you may be following in the recent footsteps of a bear.

Recommended Action

Look for other visual signs such as digging on the forest floor, clawing of trees or scat (bear poop), before continuing. Alternately give that trail a miss and relocate. There are many others to choose from. The following is a sampling from the BOW VALLEY WILDSMART brochure:

Be Elk Smart

• All elk can be dangerous. Female elk can be especially aggressive during calving season in May and June.
• During the autumn rut from September to November, male elk can be especially aggressive.
• Do not approach elk or their calves.
• Give them plenty of room. Keep at a distance of at least 3 bus lengths.

Be Cougar Smart

Cougars make the Bow Valley their home. In order to be Cougar Smart:

• Keep your group together including children and dogs.
• Avoid surprise encounters.
• Make noise to alert cougars of your presence.
• Cougars will generally avoid people.
• Walk your dogs on a leash.
• Avoid any area where you find or smell a dead animal.
• Cougars often cover their kills with forest debris.

If you encounter a cougar:

• Maintain eye contact with the cougar.
• Always leave room for it to escape.
• Immediately pick up children.
• Do not turn your back on a cougar.
• Do not run.
• Back away slowly.
• Make yourself appear as large as possible.
• If a cougar attacks, fight back with anything at hand.

Be Bear Smart

• Do not approach or feed bears.
• Avoid surprise encounters. Loud shouting or singing is more effective than bear bells. Watch for fresh evidence of bears such as tracks, droppings, diggings, or overturned rocks and logs.
• If possible, travel in groups during daylight hours.
• Walk your dog on a leash.
• Carry bear spray or an air horn and know how to use them.

If you encounter a bear, never run; it may trigger an attack. Slowly back away. You should appear passive; do not raise your voice or make direct eye contact. Climbing a tree is an option, but offers no guarantee of safety. Black bears are excellent climbers, and grizzlies have also been known to climb trees.

Once in Canmore be sure to pick up a BOW VALLEY WILDSMART brochure.

If you remember nothing else from this story, remember this: If you are about to make your first visit to Canmore and the Rockies with a plan to walk, hike and discover, it is likely that you are working through some apprehension about the potential danger and risk of being attacked by a bear. It is vital for your own peace of mind and ability to enjoy your time in our forests that you recognize that, although classified as predators, neither the grizzly bear nor black bear have a predisposition to viewing humans as a prey species.

The fact is these animals deserve your respect, and you have a responsibility to educate yourself to their habits if you intend to share their habitat. Bears, and other large mammals of the Canadian Rockies, are in general, naturally very tolerant of man, and do not pose nearly the threat to our well being that we imagine. In reality, we truly run a much higher risk of injury or death in the several hours spent in automobiles and aircraft to get here.

Above and beyond all else, recognize that in the simple world of these mammals including the bear, when in the presence of man, fear motivates them, not malice. Their fight or flight mechanism is activated and they may strike out to protect themselves or their offspring
from a perceived threat.