Honey-hunting grizzlies are ‘one of the realities’ for beekeepers in Bearberry, Alta.

As anyone who is a fan of Banjo-Kazooie Or Winnie the Pooh Who knows, bears love honey – but for beekeepers in Mountain View County, that famous sweet tooth is a cause for more concern than sweet cravings.

Simone and Steven Dold operate S2Apiary in the central Alberta community of Bearberry, located about 107 kilometers northwest of Calgary in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.

Since the couple started beekeeping in 2017, they’ve learned firsthand that bears can’t keep themselves away from their hives.

The apiary’s latest bear visit was caught on camera earlier this month, when a bear visited their property late at night on October 2.

“In this case he knocked over some sawhorses that were right outside our bee yard, and he went around the bee yard a few times, but he couldn’t really find a way to get through the electric fence,” Stevens said.

Steven called being visited by bears “one of the realities and nature of being in this part of the country.”

Living in bear country means all residents must take special precautions – especially those who have bear magnets such as beehives on their property.

“During the spring, summer and fall, we use properly installed electric fencing around our bee yards, which has proven to be the most effective deterrent against bears,” Simon said.

“We also make sure not to feed the birds, leave out compost, or leave any bee equipment or food out that could attract them.”

Steven said whenever their hives are broken into by bears, they stay safe by removing the entire bee yard, “just to make sure they don’t come back and go to the same spot, because … if they find a food source or food, they will come back.”

Being aware and alert towards bears has saved S2Apiary from suffering any significant damage from bear claws.

“Once they’re exposed to an electric fence, they learn,” Stevens said.

Viewing their beekeeping business as one of countless agricultural operations in grizzly bear territory, beekeepers stressed the importance of being bear-aware in all circumstances in rural Alberta.

“Beekeepers can lose entire bees, and farmers can lose calves, lambs and chickens to bears. There are many families with small children in our area and they also need to be vigilant outside, especially during the early morning and evening,” Simon said.

He said the two will be sure to tell prospective visitors ahead of time about recent bear sightings on the property in case it changes their minds about visiting.

Minister says grizzly bear range expanding across Alberta

Bearberry is a place where grizzlies are expected to be, but Alberta Forestry and Parks Minister Todd Loewen told CBC News the endangered species is “expanding into areas where it wasn’t before” — including the easternmost parts of Mountain View County and east of central Alberta more than in years past.

“W“You’re definitely seeing an increase in the distribution and density of grizzly bears throughout the province,” Loewen said.

He blamed the province for the increase in distribution recovery planThat includes monitoring grizzly populations, working to reduce the risk of human-wildlife conflict and human-caused grizzly bear mortality, and raising awareness on proper coexistence with bears.

“I think it’s clear to see that the recovery plan is working, and the grizzly bear population is increasing,” Loewen said.

“But at the same time, we’re concerned about negative brown-human interaction This is what is happening.”

Loewen pointed to the Alberta BearSmart program, through which the province works with municipalities and residents to provide education and information on co-existing with bears.

Mountain View BeerSmart is one of the organizations included in that network. The organization tracks sightings of bears and other large carnivores in Mountain View County and neighboring Clearwater County, while offering resources and hosting events to promote peaceful wildlife coexistence.