\nBeavers react to an unwelcome visitor<\/p>\n
A local wildlife photographer had an unexpected encounter with a young black bear in Fish Creek Provincial Park in southwest Calgary last week while out searching for owls \u2014 a moment he says was surprising, but not dangerous.<\/p>\n
Mike Reece, a longtime photographer who has increasingly focused on wildlife in recent years, said he was moving quietly along a trail when the encounter unfolded suddenly.<\/p>\n
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\u201cI see this black movement in the bushes,\u201d Reece said. \u201cI was like, \u2018No, it can\u2019t be.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
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Moments later, he realized he was face-to-face with a young black bear at very close range.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe head pops up and it just looks at me,\u201d he said. \u201cIt was like four feet away.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reece said the encounter happened so quickly there was little time to react.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve just yelled at black bears in the past because they tend to run away,\u201d Reece said. \u201cI didn\u2019t have a chance to yell. It just sort of turned and booked towards the river.\u201d<\/p>\n
Photo\/Mike Reece
\nBeavers react to an unwelcome visitor<\/p>\n
After initially moving away, Reece said he left the area, only to come across the same bear again near a beaver dam shortly afterward.<\/p>\n
Not wanting to repeat the surprise encounter, he backed off and watched from a distance as the animal moved through the area.<\/p>\n
“It was hovering around the beaver pond eating bullrushes and whatever it could find in the water.”<\/p>\n
The setting became more active as nearby beavers reacted to the presence of the bear.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThe beavers were just slamming their tails down,\u201d Reece said. \u201cI\u2019ve never heard it so loud. They were just banging away.\u201d<\/p>\n
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He said the sound stood out sharply in the otherwise quiet setting.<\/p>\n
Reece said the bear did not show any aggressive behaviour and appeared focused on feeding rather than interacting with people.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was just an incredible evening,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
He added that while he is experienced in bear country, the moment reinforced the importance of being prepared when in wildlife areas \u2014 including urban-adjacent parks and natural spaces.<\/p>\n
Reece said he normally carries bear spray while scouting for photographs on his mountain bike, even in popular urban natural spaces such as the Cochrane Ranche, but did not have it with him on this particular outing.<\/p>\n
A reminder for urban-adjacent wilderness<\/p>\n
For Reece, the encounter ultimately served as a reminder of how quickly wildlife can appear in even heavily used urban park systems.<\/p>\n
He found his first visit to the provincial park impressive.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt surprised me because I\u2019d never been there. It was incredibly biodiverse, like a Rocky Mountain kind of environment, so I was super pleased to see everything thriving.\u201d<\/p>\n
Speaking from his many experiences, he reminds people of what measures should be taken, even in green space in an urban setting.<\/p>\n
\u201cBe bear aware,\u201d he said. \u201cEducate yourself. Make noise if you’re unsure. Don’t carry a Bluetooth speaker because those are annoying, but sing a song, whistle, and carry bear spray if you think it’s important.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u201cI don’t want to inflict fear on the population. Generally speaking, on well-travelled trails, the bears are going to be very timid. They’re all opportunists. They’re not predatory. That’s the thing that people need to know. Bears will take opportunities, but they rarely will hunt anything.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Photo\/Mike Reece<\/p>\n
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