Visitors to Kananaskis Country July 20-24 will gain valuable information on how grizzlies make their living in the Rockies and how to avoid bear encounters.

The Government of Alberta, with support from the Friends of Kananaskis Country, is hosting Bear Days in Peter Lougheed and Bow Valley provincial parks, and Mt. Kidd RV Park in Kananaskis Country.

A variety of talks and guided walks by ecologists, conservation officers and Wind River Bear Institute biologists will cover topics such as how grizzlies make their living in the Rockies, trapping and monitoring grizzlies, the bear aversion program, how to avoid bear encounters, and demonstrations on how to use bear spray. Author Ben Gadd will deliver a keynote presentation on Saturday morning in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park.

During Bear Days, provincial park interpreters will perform their national award-winning musical interpretive theatre show called GRR-ease: The Bear Musical. Activity-based family programs will also provide information on grizzly bears’ needs and what visitors can do to help keep bears wild.

There will also be opportunities for visitors to help bears. A weed-pulling event will see volunteers pull invasive oxeye daisy along the access road to the Lower Lake Day Use area in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park.  Buffaloberry thinning events are planned in Peter Lougheed and Bow Valley provincial parks where participants will cut buffaloberry shrubs from one of the campgrounds or day use areas to remove natural attractants for bears.

All events are free; however, the Friends of Kananaskis Country will be collecting donations throughout Bear Days to support the Kananaskis Country bear aversion program. Visit www.tpr.alberta.ca/parks/kananaskis/bear-days.asp for more information.