Alberta Parks issued an elk warning on May 26 for the Spur Line Trail, Larch Island and surrounding areas in Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park near Canmore, Alberta. The advisory comes as calving season gets underway, making cow elk particularly aggressive in protecting their newborn calves.
The warning covers popular trails and green spaces just outside Canmore, where heightened elk activity has been observed. The advisory follows a recent May 24 incident in which a black bear was chased up a tree by a mother elk outside a Canmore grocery store. Fish and Wildlife officers tranquilized the bear after it had been tracked to the area following an elk calf attack the night before.
According to Alberta Parks, trail users should keep at least 30 metres, or three bus lengths, away from elk and always keep pets on leashes. Officials also want residents and visitors to report any aggressive elk encounters to Kananaskis Emergency Services at 403-591-7755.
Nick de Ruyter, the WildSmart program director with the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley, has called elk “the most dangerous animal in Alberta, by far” during calving season. This period, from mid-May to early July, sees cow elk fiercely defend their young. Harassing or disturbing wildlife in Alberta provincial parks can result in fines under the Provincial Parks Act and its regulations.
The Spur Line Trail and Larch Island sit within an active wildlife corridor where travel is restricted to official paths. Alberta Parks and Parks Canada issue such warnings annually to reduce conflicts. The Kananaskis Country advisory page will list any further updates.
