Client Concern
In September, a resident living east of Calgary contacted us after discovering damage to the railing of his deck. The client believed the damage had been caused by a bear, as he had also found scat nearby that he assumed to be bear feces. I requested that the scat be preserved and conducted a site visit later the same day.
Site Investigation
Upon arrival, I conducted a thorough inspection of the unfenced yard. No natural food attractants commonly associated with bear activity were present. Aside from grass—which does not typically attract bears in the fall—there were no berry bushes, fruit trees, or other high-calorie food sources that bears actively seek during this season. Several piles of deer droppings were observed throughout the yard.
Inspection of the deck revealed multiple broken railing panels hanging from the frame. The damage pattern suggested that an animal had climbed onto the deck and broken the panels while squeezing through the railing. No hair, claw marks, or other physical indicators were found on the deck or damaged panels that would have assisted with species identification.
The property owner then presented the scat he had collected. Based on size and general shape, the scat could initially resemble that of a black bear or a juvenile grizzly bear. However, closer examination revealed that it was solid, uniform, and homogeneous in composition, with a strong odor characteristic of domestic dog feces. The scat appeared to be the result of a dog consuming dry pet food rather than that of a bear.
Risk Assessment and Client Consultation
During the fall, grizzly bears often dig extensively for roots, which can result in pale, homogeneous scat; however, grizzly bear presence is extremely limited this close to Calgary. Black bears in this region typically focus on berries and fruits during the fall to build fat reserves for hibernation. Because bears digest plant material inefficiently, black bear scat commonly contains visible berry fragments and seeds. When bears prey and feed on animals or find and eat from carrions, hair and bone fragments are typically present in their feces.
Additionally, garbage containers on the property were found intact and undisturbed, with trash still inside. This was a significant observation, as bears almost invariably investigate and exploit unsecured garbage due to its high caloric value. The lack of garbage disturbance strongly suggested that a bear had not visited the property.
Monitoring and Follow-Up
Based on the absence of physical evidence, food attractants, and characteristic bear behavior, I found no indication that a bear had been present on the deck or in the yard. However, as the homeowner remained concerned, I proposed installing wildlife cameras to confirm the species responsible for the damage.
The client agreed, and two motion-activated cameras were installed—one in the yard and one on the deck. I returned the following afternoon to review the footage. No images were captured on the deck camera. The yard camera recorded multiple images of deer and one large domestic dog. No bears were documented during the monitoring period, including after one full week of observation.
Outcome
Following review of the camera footage, the homeowner accepted that the deck damage was most likely caused by a large dog rather than a bear. The cameras were subsequently removed. I advised the client to remain observant and to contact me if any future signs of potential bear activity were observed on the property.
Real grizzly bear scat