Black bear wanders Edmonton's northwest neighbourhoods overnight, no injuries reported
Animal spotted roaming Cumberland and Canossa between midnight and 1:30 a.m. Tuesday. Police and Fish and Wildlife alerted.
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A black bear was spotted roaming through Edmonton's northwest neighbourhoods early Tuesday morning, with multiple sightings reported between midnight and 1:30 a.m. in the Cumberland and Canossa areas.
Edmonton Police Service received several reports of the animal near Cumberland and Oxford neighbourhoods, east of St. Albert Trail and south of Anthony Henday Drive. The bear was sometimes seen quickly trotting down streets and at other times moving slowly down sidewalks while scanning front yards, according to videos residents captured. Fish and Wildlife was alerted to the bear's presence after police reports came in.
Meagan Hamilton, a Cumberland resident, said she watched the animal walk past her vehicles and down her road. "I was just flabbergasted. I couldn't believe that was actually happening," she said. Another resident, Donna Davies of Canossa, reported seeing a coyote chasing the bear into her cul-de-sac. "We don't expect it here, but I guess you have to be bear aware in the city as well," Davies said. She expressed hope the animal would be captured and removed safely.
No reports emerged of anyone coming face to face with the bear, aggressive behaviour, property damage, or the animal accessing food sources. No additional sightings occurred after 1:30 a.m.
Mark Boyce, a University of Alberta ecology professor, explained that bears travel through the river valley and nearby green spaces in search of food, particularly as they enter peak feeding season in fall. "They need to put on about 25 per cent of their body weight in the fall to be able to make it through to the winter, so this time of year they are feeding heavily," Boyce said.
Alberta's Ministry of Public Safety and Emergency Services recommends residents secure garbage, bird feeders, pet food, barbecues, and fallen fruit. The province advises that if you encounter a bear, remain calm, do not run, and back away slowly while speaking in a calm voice. Keep pets leashed and avoid areas where the bear has recently been seen.
The facts
When and where was the black bear spotted in Edmonton?
The bear was sighted between midnight and 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, in the Cumberland and Canossa neighbourhoods of northwest Edmonton, near Cumberland and Oxford streets, east of St. Albert Trail and south of Anthony Henday Drive.
Was anyone hurt or did the bear damage property?
No reports emerged of anyone coming face to face with the bear, aggressive behaviour, property damage, or the animal accessing food sources.
Why do bears enter Edmonton neighbourhoods in the fall?
Bears travel through the river valley and nearby green spaces in search of food as they enter peak feeding season in fall, needing to gain about 25 per cent of their body weight to survive winter.
