First spottings of bears in the Crowsnest Pass area have occurred. On Monday, April 22nd, a grizzly was seen in Hillcrest.
“They’re coming out,” said Fish and Wildlife officer John Clarke. “They come out at different times; some will come out now, and some will come out in a couple weeks.”
Clarke explained that the male bears are usually the first to vacate their dens, with the female following a short time later.
“Usually by the second week of May, the bears are out,” he said, adding that temperatures and snow drainage have an impact on when hibernation season ends for bears.
“It depends on how warm it gets. If the snow melts and goes into their dens, they come out more quickly.”
He also said that it is common for grizzly bears to come out, but only for a short time to check conditions before retiring back to their dens for some more nights of slumber.
Hibernation season for bears begins around the end of October and ends middle of May.
If you spot a bear that might be dangering a person or property, call Fish and Wildlife at 562-3289.
