Black bear killed after getting into garbage near Calgary

Black bear killed after getting into garbage near Calgary

Albertans advised to keep food secure as bears bulk up for winter

A black bear was captured and killed after repeatedly getting into garbage bins near Calgary, according to the Alberta government.

"Throughout the summer of 2026, Fish and Wildlife Enforcement officers responded to reports of a black bear repeatedly accessing residential garbage and other human food sources in Diamond Valley," the Department of Public Safety and Emergency Services (PSES) told CBC News in a statement.

"The bear was also observed to be undeterred by people and, in some cases, approached individuals."

PSES says the bear was killed on Wednesday since it presented a public safety risk.

"In this case, due to the bear's level of food conditioning and habituation to people, it was determined that the bear could not be safely managed," the department said.

Kim Titchener, founder of Bear Safety and More, says now's the time of year that bears are most likely to wander into urban areas in search of food.

"Before they go into hibernation, they hit what's called hyperphagia, where they're now going to be so hungry they're trying to get as much fat on their body as possible," she said.

That extreme hunger can lead to bears venturing into unfamiliar territory in search of easy food like garbage and fruit trees.

"Those bears will make that choice to take the risk of being near people to get that food source because it's a matter of life and death for them," Titchener said.

Last August, almost to the day, a black bear was captured by Fish and Wildlife after wandering through southwest Calgary and relocated to rural land.

Black bear cub spotted at Calgary shopping centre

The area around Diamond Valley is a known bear hot spot. It's where an orphaned grizzly bear that escaped its enclosure at the Calgary Zoo earlier this month came from.

In southwest Calgary, 11 neighbourhoods are listed on the city's website as known to be frequented by bears. Those communities include Oakridge, Discovery Ridge and Woodlands. Bears are also known to appear in Fish Creek Provincial Park.

People living in areas known to attract bears are advised to eliminate attractants by properly securing garbage and compost, removing bird feeders while bears are active, and keeping barbecues free of food residue.

"If we want to help bears, we don't want to have foods around our homes that can attract them, and then they could get shot or relocated," Titchener said. "We do want to encourage them to stay into those more safe, natural, low-risk areas."

How officers decide whether to kill a bear

The decision to relocate a problem bear or kill it typically comes down to guidelines laid out in the province's detailed black bear response guide.

Under that framework, bears are classified based on factors such as age, whether they have cubs, and their specific problematic behaviour — whether that's becoming habituated to the presence of humans, learning to associate humans with food, or preying on livestock, pets or humans.

Black bears can be found in about 75 per cent of Alberta, where they inhabit most forested areas, according to the province.

Black bears live in every Canadian province except Prince Edward Island. They're not considered at-risk throughout their range, while grizzly bears are a threatened species in Alberta.

Amir Said is a multimedia journalist with CBC Calgary. He is an alumnus of the University of Regina, and his award-winning work as a writer and photographer has been published by outlets across Canada, including Postmedia, The Hill Times and The Narwhal. Amir can be reached at amir.said@cbc.ca or through social media.