The Bow Valley, surrounded by federal and provincial protected areas, has been a magnet for developers and recreationists over the last decade. An influx of people and infrastructure has steadily...
Description
The Bow Valley, surrounded by federal and provincial protected areas, has been a magnet for developers and recreationists over the last decade. An influx of people and infrastructure has steadily crept into historical bear habitat and put pressure on local bear populations. As human use in the valley increases, so does the chance of bear-human conflicts. Much as been done to mitigate for conflict between bears and people in the valley. Programs such as bear-proof bins, birdfeeder bylaws, Bear Shepherding, attractant management, and the creation of wildlife corridors in highway underpasses have all required varying levels of compromise amongst stakeholders in the valley. Even with these advances, conflict continues to occur as a result of bears obtaining unnatural and natural foods in or near developments, bears becoming habituated and people not complying with local initiatives designed, in part, to reduce conflicts between wildlife and people. As this report outlines, formidable...