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About cougars For this full article visit Human Wildlife conflict If you see a cougar in your community, call your nearest Fish and Wildlife office. A Fish and Wildlife officer can provide advice on preventing cougar encounters and responding when cougar encounters are unavoidable. Fish & Wildlife Office Contacts Cougars are efficient predators that feed largely on deer. The rest of their diet consists of elk, moose, bighorn sheep and small mammals. A healthy cougar population is an indication of a thriving local ecosystem. In years when deer, elk and moose numbers are high, the number of cougars will be...

Bears are busy this season with a recent bear encounter in Kananaskis Country.   Here's a thorough read on how to be Safe Around Bears by Robert Brannon. This guide has everything you need to know about bear safety. Bears are beautiful animals, and it's an exciting experience to see one. But being around a bear can also be dangerous if you don't know what you're doing. When hiking or camping in bear country, there is a number of precautions that you can take to avoid unexpected bear encounters. And to be prepared to act if you find yourself in...

For those that are looking to the great outdoors for their mental health and to enjoy the great outdoors, remember to stay prepared while enjoying the outdoors.   What to do if you encounter a bear?   Defensive Encounter May occur when a bear is defending something such as cubs, its food source or if the bear is surprised by your presence.  Do not run Ready your bear spray Try to appear non-threatening, avoiding eye contact Talk in a calm voice Slowly move away without turning your back to the bear Use your bear spray if the bear comes within usable range...

As we enjoy the outdoors and the mental health the outdoors brings, it's important that we remember to stay safe in bear country and carry bear spray.  Travelling in smaller groups to keep our social distances makes carrying bear spray even more essential.   So, what's the difference in bears?   Black bears can be black, blue-black, dark brown, brown, cinnamon and even white. Grizzlies can range from from black to blond. Size is not a good indicator of which species is which.  Black bears can weigh up to 800 pounds in the fall, and grizzly bears on Alberta’s Eastern Slopes can weigh as little...

It's important to be prepared for wildlife encounters with Elk at this time of year.  We commonly hear of someone biking, hiking or walking near Elk only to surprise an Elk calf lying in the grass out of site which puts Mom Elk on the defensive.  Be outdoors and be prepared for all wildlife encounters as you venture out.   Here's a recent caution on Elk encounters:  Elk Caution Canmore Area