LEARNING IN THE GARDENS: LIVING SMART WITH WILDLIFE

Join us in the NWMP Barracks gardens for an engaging evening of wildlife safety and awareness with Nick de Ruyter, WildSmart Program Director at the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley. This interactive workshop will help you stay safe and coexist responsibly with the wildlife that share our valley.

With berry season winding down, we turn our attention to fruit tree attractants and the upcoming elk rut – two key challenges for people and wildlife alike. Learn practical skills and knowledge, including:

• How to avoid and handle wildlife encounters in the Bow Valley
• How to manage attractants at home and on the trails (fruit trees, food, and garbage)
• How to safely carry and use bear spray, with hands-on practice using inert training spray
• Why reporting wildlife in town matters, and why we don’t want bears in our backyards

The workshop will conclude with a Q&A and discussion on how you can play a role in building a community of coexistence.

📍 NWMP Barracks Gardens
💰 By donation – please register ahead
🤝 In collaboration with the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley, with support from the Town of Canmore