Residents near the Nightingale area reported a grizzly bear sighting near the small hamlet, located 65 km east of Calgary on May 23.
Posts were made to the website outdoorsmenforum.ca stated that two grizzly bears had been spotted in the area near Beiseker, which is 55 km north of Nightingale.
Brendan Cox, a spokesperson with Alberta Fish and Wildlife, said there were a few reports of a grizzly bear near Nightingale on May 23 but things have since quieted down.
“Fish and Wildlife officers patrolled the area near Nightingale and there were no signs of the bear,” said Cox.
A few days later, however, there were reports of a grizzly bear sighting west of Vulcan, about 100 km south of Nightingale.
“It could possibly have been the same bear that was seen near Nightingale,” said Cox. “This would indicate that the bear is moving toward more prevalent grizzly bear habitat.”
Generally grizzly bears are not found as far east as these sightings, and are more apt to reside in mountain areas, according to Cox. In the event that you do encounter a bear, there are a variety of methods to protect yourself, depending on the type of bear.
“If it’s a black bear, you can yell at it and take an aggressive posture and make yourself look big to scare it off,” said Cox.
“Grizzly bears won’t be scared off so if you have a safe distance you should back away slowly and not make any sudden moves to startle it. If a grizzly bear is acting aggressively, you should lie down on the ground and play dead.”
There are a few differences to look for to differentiate the bears, as colour is not always the easiest indicator. Grizzly bears have broader heads and a hump between their shoulders. Full-grown grizzly bears are also larger than black bears.
If anyone spots a bear, they are encouraged to call the 24-hour Report a Poacher line at: 1-800-642-3800.
