A bear warning is now in effect for the Lake Minnewanka Trail and campgrounds in Banff National Park after multiple black bears made contact with tents in recent weeks. Parks Canada issued the warning on July 7, 2026, covering six backcountry campground loops known as Lm8, Lm9, Lm11, Lm20, Lm22, and Lm31.
The first incident happened on June 6 when a black bear damaged and entered an unoccupied tent at the Lm9 campground. On June 13, two more tents were damaged at Lm9, and a bag of food was accessed at Lm8. The next day, Parks Canada staff received a report of two additional unoccupied tents being ripped at Lm20. No one was inside any of the tents, and no aggressive encounters between people and bears have been reported.
Parks Canada is now running DNA tests to see if the same bear is responsible for all the incidents. Similar tent damage happened in the same area in May 2025, when a female black bear with her yearling cub tore into a tent at a backcountry campground.
Visitors to the area must store all food, pet food, and scented items in the food storage lockers provided. People are also required to stay at least 100 metres away from any bear and to carry bear spray that they know how to use. Bear-resistant food containers are mandatory in the park from April 1 to November 15.
Anyone who spots a bear should call Banff Dispatch at 403-762-1470 with details like the bear’s size, colour, behaviour, and any ear tag colours or numbers. The campground at Lm8 will also be closed to all users from July 10 to September 15 as part of annual seasonal rules that protect bear habitat during berry season.
