Black bear spotted multiple times in Fish Creek Park
A young black bear has been sighted in southwest Calgary's green spaces since mid-June, but wildlife officials say there's no sign of aggressive behaviour.
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A small black bear has been spotted multiple times in Fish Creek Provincial Park since June 16, prompting Alberta Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Services to alert the public. Wildlife photographer Mike Reece encountered the bear twice in one evening while looking for owls Tuesday. "I see this black movement in the bushes," he said.
"The head pops up and it just looks at me. It was like four feet away." The bear turned and ran toward the river, then Reece spotted it again nearby at a beaver dam, where it was fishing and eating cattails. "The small black bear is likely a juvenile and has been sighted primarily within the green space of the park, particularly in the areas known as Marshall Springs, Votier's Flats, and Bebo Grove," the province said in a statement.
Fish Creek is part of a wildlife corridor frequently travelled by bears, according to Calgary wildlife biologist Sara Jordan-McLachlan. "It's really good habitat for bears with lots of food sources, lots of berry bushes, lots of tubers to eat," she said. "So it's not going to be uncommon that they would come in and out." Alberta Fish and Wildlife has received no reports of aggressive or defensive behaviour from the bear, nor any evidence it has been accessing unnatural food sources.
The City of Calgary lists 11 southwest neighbourhoods known to be frequented by bears, including Oakridge, Discovery Ridge, and Woodlands. Jordan-McLachlan recommends staying on designated trails and carrying bear spray.