Calgary’s Griffith Woods Park remain closed due to bear activity

Calgary’s Griffith Woods Park in the southwest community of Discovery Ridge will remain closed until Friday due to bear activity.

Alberta Fish and Wildlife Enforcement announced on social media Wednesday evening that officers are working to “capture bears seeking out food.”

It says officers with Calgary Fish and Wildlife are dealing with “several bear sighting calls,” and includes bears getting into garbage and compost bins.

Rangers say a sow black bear and three cubs were spotted around Discovery Ridge and Springbank Hill.

The enforcement agency is asking residents to store garbage in bear-resistant and odour-proof containers to avoid bears from habituating in the area, along with other forms of wildlife.

It also asks people to clean up around homes, to never leave pet food outside, to avoid using bird feeders between April 1 and Nov. 30, and to clean barbeques among other things.

The agency says this is the second bear sighting in two months.

READ MORE: Calgary bear sightings jumped over 300 per cent since 2021

Alberta Fish and Wildlife issued its first warning and shut down access to the area Saturday.

Due to bear activity, Griffith Woods Park has been closed by Alberta Environment and Parks. Calgarians are asked to stay out for their safety. Instead, try one of the many other local parks.

Learn more at https://t.co/Xxfh0B7HVr. pic.twitter.com/tfB8gqb5GD

— City of Calgary (@cityofcalgary) October 22, 2022

“Calgarians are asked to stay out for their safety. Instead, try one of the many other local parks,” The City of Calgary tweeted.

The more than 20-year-old park was named after two wealthy Calgarians who donated a portion of their estate to the city in 2000 to create a nature preserve.

–With files from Kelly Turner