Canmore wolf sightings concern officials

Provincial officials are monitoring an increase in wolf activity in the town of Canmore, but aren't yet ringing alarm bells.

Human-wildlife conflict biologist Jay Honeyman said it's not typical to see the animals in town but the wolves may be drawn by the elk that grazein urban areas.

"You've got large predators coming into town you know there's the obvious safety issues, and it's not good for the wolves either," he said."They can't be getting into that habit that's going to get them into trouble as well."

The wolves are thought to be part of the local Fairholme pack,which ranges along parts of the Bow Valley.

Bow Valley pack

There are no signs of aggressive behaviour at this time, unlike their cousins in the Bow Valley pack who have struggled with human interactions and suffered as a consequence.

• Banff hopes to protect wolves by crackdown on messy campers
• Another Banff wolf killed after becoming habituated to human food

There are only three wolves remaining in the Bow Valley pack.

Still officials are asking residents be safe and aware.

Honeymansaid they'll look at more strategies to shift the Fairholme wolves away from Canmore.

"We want them out in the wildlife corridors and habitat patches. We don't want them inside the urban footprint."

• MORE CALGARY NEWS |Homeless man's death leaves Calgary church to reflect on community, humanity
• MORE CALGARY NEWS |Lethbridge man passes torch on historic yearbook collection