{"id":637974,"date":"2026-04-30T05:58:10","date_gmt":"2026-04-30T05:58:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/637974\/"},"modified":"2026-04-30T05:58:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T05:58:10","slug":"did-you-know-elk-island-national-park-has-black-bears","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/637974\/","title":{"rendered":"Did you know Elk Island National Park has black bears?"},"content":{"rendered":"

As warmer weather brings more traffic to Elk Island National Park<\/a>, visitors this spring expecting to see bison might find themselves seeing something else \u2014 black bears.<\/p>\n

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Staff say many visitors have no idea black bears<\/a> are in the park.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey didn\u2019t even know that there were bears here and so they didn\u2019t know to carry bear spray. They didn\u2019t know to make noise,\u201d explained lead ecologist Ramona Maraj.<\/p>\n

She said recent research indicates there\u2019s now around 40 black bears in the park, a population that really started growing around 2016.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s part of a North America wide range expansion that\u2019s happening of black bear,\u201d Maraj said.<\/p>\n

\u201cElk Island has really good resources, good beet hazel and berry resources for them.\u201d<\/p>\n

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While there haven\u2019t been any negative interactions reported with visitors, Parks Canada has taken steps to mitigate the risk, doing things like installing bear-proof garbage containers and lockers for campers\u2019 groceries.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is a bear-resistant place for them to be able to store food. They can also store it in a hard-sided vehicle. We discourage people from thinking things like their tent might be a place where they can store food,\u201d Maraj explained.<\/p>\n

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She said hungry bears have no problem destroying a tent to get a meal.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople who are here for picnics, one of the big issues that we often encounter is that they will leave their food unattended.\u201d<\/p>\n

When it comes to hiking or biking in the park, Maraj said in addition to carrying bear spray, travelling in groups and making noise, visitors should avoid using the trails at dawn or dusk.<\/p>\n

She also recommends people not wear headphones or earbuds, so they can hear approaching wildlife.<\/p>\n

Did you know there\u2019s between 30-50 black bears that call @ElkIslandNP<\/a> home? There\u2019s been no reported conflicts with visitors and @ParksCanada<\/a> wants to keep it that way. They\u2019re urging visitors to make noise while hiking, clean up garbage and never leave food unattended. #yeg<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/3v4VsI85gh<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Sarah Ryan (@SarahRyanYEG) April 29, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

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\u201cWe need to think about how we can coexist with them. How do we reduce the change of conflicts?\u201d<\/p>\n

Visitors may also spot bears along the roadside, and drivers are encouraged to slow down, but not stop.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been trying to educate people. And we\u2019ve been doing an aversive conditioning program where we teach the bears that if cars are stopping for them, they should run into the bush and hide.\u201d<\/p>\n

They say it\u2019s important Elk Island\u2019s bears don\u2019t get comfortable around people.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt tends to cascade into them having to be destroyed which is an outcome nobody really wants,\u201d Maraj said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you are aware of what\u2019s here, then you can prepare yourself when you\u2019re coming to Elk Island.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tBlack bears seen in Elk Island.\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tFriends of Elk Island Society\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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