Okay, okay I know I am panicking about everything, but are bears a worry around Calgary? We are looking a living about 40 mins from downtown in a semi-rural area and I am fretting about bears valuting the fence into the backyard to get at my son. Am I an over-anxious mother - please tell me I am!!

I think you are being over anxious!

While I have heard of one bear in calgary in the last couple of years (It wandered into an outlying park and scared a couple of people walking a dog), they are not exactly common.

Bears tend to avoid humans - they have learned that if they don't they get shot at by big things that go BANG! Seriously though, most bears don't come that close to the city...

And afaik most bears don't jump so vaulting over a fence prob wouldn't happen either. And as adorable as your son probably is, I doubt he would be a bear's favourite food. However if you smeared him in honey maybe....

If a bear was close enough to the city to get into your garden you would probably hear about it on the news - plenty of time to get your son to go inside where he would be safe.

Thanks - I know I am probably worrying about the whole move etc....but thankyou for replying

There was one at the Rockyview hospital sometime last year, if i recall. They don't usually come in that close though.

I was just as worried as you are about them before we came and we were lucky enough to see 2 this summer in Kanananskis, but they're the only ones. They track them out there, i don't know about other areas.

Well I was told today that bears have shorter front legs than back legs and that they can't run down hills! OR they can't climb trees!! So my OH is considering living in a tree-house in a valley somewhere!!!

Dont know if its true or not but if it is can I send my wee monsters over for a sleepover
In fact the wife will be over too!

chances of a bear attack are slim, but there have been a number of instances in SW near fish creek - the bear in the hospital that has been mentioned - believe it got in thru the automatic doors (remember the old who shot my paw joke), also bear cavorting around back gardens in deer ridge area last year,one spotted in fish creek 37th area, one nr Glenmore Reservoir- we live in Woodbine near 37th st bridge, which under lies a natural corridor for wildlife to head into fish creek park (cougar last year for example)

your first statement ; try telling that to the woman nr Vancouver whos was attacked by a bear whilst gardening, quick thinking passer by rammed it off with his SUV - lots of talk about bears moving from natural habitat in search of food beacuse of bad berry season, continued urban sprawl encroaching on their hood etc

in saying all that our young kids play out the back all summer long

That's not true. Bears run very fast up or down hills and are excellent tree climbers. Regardless, you are certainly being overly anxious and I would not be worried if I were you. Bears naturally fear humans.

Ha........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjrI5ELkj3Y

No Worries though, as you can kill them with a stick....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4-ZDQm2c2w&feature=user

I live in Cochrane which is 30 minutes west of Calgary 30 minutes east of Kananaskus ( I know spelt wrong!)

The town has been visited by a bear twice in the 6 years we have lived here. The first time was on Labour day, when the town was full and the parade full of kids was about to start

Anyhow have no fear, by-law Bob and his band of merry men, sorted him out and no one was eaten.

The second time was this year and again I read about the bear in the local paper and nothing about people being attacked.

Okay so Early September a black bear attacked a hunter near Dogpound creek about 25 miles noth of Cochrane, Guy got his leg bit, Bear gut a lead injection for being a bear
Then a begining of October South of Sundre and west of the H22 a hunter texted his wife saying he though he was having a heart attack. They found his half eaten bod, then plugged a Grizzly, Bears just being Bears

Bears have a top speed over short distance that is faster than a race horse
You cannot out run them, the best chance of survival is to take your mother in law for a walk

Climing trees to escape?
Sorry but Black bears are excellent climbers, and if it's a grizzly, you won't make the tree

Don't worry about bears though, follow the rules in Bear country, you'll be fine.
i'd worry more about Cougars, Rattlers, Scorpions etc

Yes. Little Timmy will only get mauled by a black bear. Not a grizzly.

Keep him fenced in for his own safety.

R.

Sorry is that fence in little Timmy for the bears safety or for his safety

I know that Discovery Ridge in Calgary was visited by black bear (s) earlier this year as it showed them on local Tv raiding peoples garbage bags!!
Bragg Creek (about 35mins W of Calgary) is regularly visited by bears and we have family that live near there who get Grizzly's and black bears in their back garden!!! Mind you they have over 10 acres for a garden and most of that is still forest, so thats hardly surprising.