CANMORE – A rare run-in with a black bear left a trail runner in Canmore with bites and bruises to his forearm.
Alberta conservation officers received a call on Saturday afternoon (July 22) that a man running the Lady Macdonald Trail surprised a black bear at close range.
“This resulted in this individual receiving a bite on the forearm from the bear, which resulted in two puncture wounds and some bruising,” said Duncan Baker, a conservation officer with the environmental enforcement branch in the Bow Valley district.
“Based on the investigation thus far, we believe this was a defensive encounter as a result of surprising the bear at very close range.”
The trail runner was carrying bear spray while out for his run, but didn’t end up using it as the bear ended the attack on its own and left the area.
Baker said the man went home and treated his injuries, then called to report the incident.
“Our officers suggested it might be worthwhile to visit the hospital just to get a proper cleaning, but it’s unknown if he actually followed up and did attend any hospital,” he said.
Multiple officers went to the site to investigate that day and the following day.
Details on what the bear was doing in the lead-up to the encounter are not known.
“The individual had no idea what the bear was doing prior to it essentially coming out of the bush,” said Baker.
“Everything we have is that he just had the misfortune of ending up two metres away from a bear.”
The Lady Macdonald Trail was immediately shut down on Saturday and remains closed until further notice.
Other nearby trails are under a bear warning, including the Horseshoe Loop and Montane Trail, Cougar Creek Trail, Grotto Mountain Trail, G8 trail, Meander trail and Johnny’s Trail.
Baker said there are currently no bear traps out to try to capture or relocate the bear.
He said everything so far suggests this was an isolated incident.
“The closure is going to stay in place over the coming days just to facilitate the investigation,” he said.
Baker said there were no other reports of the bear on Saturday and none since.
“Officers that were on the trail doing the investigation did not encounter a single other person who had seen a bear that day,” he said.
To help prevent a surprise bear encounter, Alberta Parks recommends making plenty of noise, travelling in groups, looking and listening for bears and keeping dogs on leash.
“If you’re travelling solo, not in a group and you're running, you’re not going to be talking, so put in the extra effort to make noise,” said Baker.
“It’s also important to be super aware of your surroundings, looking and listening for bears and signs of them, whether that’s tracks or evidence of them feeding.”
Recreationalists are also encouraged to carry bear spray, make sure it is accessible and know how to use it.
Bear sightings in Kananaskis Country should be reported to 403-591-7755.
