Wildlife enthusiast Mike Reece had an unexpected encounter with a black bear at Fish Creek Provincial Park in Calgary. Reece, who was out seeking owls, was surprised to see the bear just four feet away from him. The bear quickly retreated towards the river, and despite Reece’s attempt to avoid it, he crossed paths with the bear again near a beaver dam.
Observing the bear climbing logs and fishing, Reece described the scene as the bear indulged in cattails. The presence of the bear caused agitation among the beavers in the area, who were unfamiliar with this intruder in their territory.
Reece, now more cautious, mentioned he would carry bear spray when visiting Fish Creek in the future. According to Alberta Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Services (FWES), multiple sightings of the same black bear have been reported since June 16 in Fish Creek Provincial Park. The FWES identified the bear as a juvenile and stated it had been primarily spotted in various areas within the park.
While there have been no reports of aggressive behavior from the bear, the province emphasized that there is no evidence of the bear accessing unnatural food sources. Sara Jordan-McLachlan, a wildlife biologist, highlighted that bear sightings in and around Fish Creek are not uncommon due to the area’s rich wildlife habitat.
The City of Calgary does not actively track bear sightings but acknowledges certain neighborhoods, particularly in the southwest quadrant, are frequented by bears. In the past, FWES has relocated bears found in Calgary to safer locations outside the city.
Jordan-McLachlan advised the public to be cautious when encountering bears, suggesting that staying on designated trails and not actively seeking out the animals can help prevent aggressive interactions. She emphasized the importance of respecting wildlife and avoiding actions that could potentially provoke defensive behavior from bears.