Tag: Alberta

Watch: Wild stallion fiercely protects foal from wolves

Footage shows the wolves searching for an opening, but the stallion and herd mates weren’t about to give them one.

A group that studies wild horses in Alberta, Canada, on Monday shared trail-cam footage showing a stallion and herd members intently defending a foal from wolves.

“A lot of people ask us if the Stallion would try to protect his foal from wolves,” Help Alberta Wildies Society stated via Facebook. “This short video will give you an idea of what that might look like.”

The footage (posted below), which HAWS said was captured a year ago, shows the stallion leading a determined effort to cut off the wolves’ advances. (Click here if video player doesn’t appear below.)

https://www.facebook.com/HelpAlbertaWildiesSociety/videos/1600909290503558

Viewers will note that the wolves steer clear of the larger horses (and their hooves) but remain persistent in trying to single out the foal.

Reads the top comment: “The wolves want them to run so they can separate their intended prey and isolate it to take it down. When the herds stand their ground and put the foals in the center the predators tend to look for easier prey.”

The outcome was not clear, but the horses appear determined to hold their ground.

On a related topic, HAWS also has clips showing horses running from grizzly bears, which can sprint up to 35 mph. The bears, like the wolves, are hoping to catch a weary foal or a larger horse to fall and become injured.

In 2022, we featured one such chase that also involved a foal, with the grizzly in close pursuit. HAWS was quoted:

“The next time someone tells you that the Wild Horses have no natural predators, send them to me. We are losing a lot of horses this year, sooner and quicker than in past years. Not just the foals. Adults also.”

It was not clear if the bear was successful in its chase.

Grizzly bear cub appears to dance while getting its scratch on

Footage from Alberta, Canada, shows a large grizzly bear cub breaking out all the moves while enjoying a good scratch.

Alaska’s Denali National Park on Sunday shared footage showing a grizzly bear “satisfying its itch” by rubbing its back against the bottom of a campground sign.

“While amusing, this video serves as a reminder that the Park is home to many bears and other animals that may be encountered on or near roads and in other front-country areas,” Denali stated via Instagram. “As you travel in the park this shoulder season, enjoy wildlife from a safe distance.”

The clip is reminiscent of footage captured in 2022 by a trail camera operated in Alberta, Canada, by the Help Alberta Wildies Society, which studies wild horses.

The accompanying Alberta clip is a classic because the large grizzly bear cub stands on its hind legs and appears to dance while rubbing against a tree.

It’s made more entertaining by music that transforms from suspenseful to fun and lively once the scratching begins. Click here to view the footage if a video player does not appear below.

https://www.facebook.com/HelpAlbertaWildiesSociety/videos/742508471239072

 

Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge reported to have survived horrifying wildfire in Canada

With horrifying flames nearby, historic Canadian lodge remains standing.

A massive wildfire that rushed into Jasper in Alberta, Canada, has left much of the town in ruins. Local news outlets reported that 30 to 50 percent of structures have burned as 300-foot-plus walls of flames poured across the mountainous landscape Wednesday and Thursday. Nearby Jasper National Park likewise suffered extensive damage.

The area is also home to the historic Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge and its golf course, which opened in 1925 with a layout by famed Canadian designer Stanley Thompson. The course is rated among the best classic courses in the country.

The lodge was evacuated as the fires approached, but after many anxious hours it appears the lodge and course escaped most of the damage so far, as firefighters are still combating the inferno.

The lodge posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday evening that the hotel did incur fire damage, but most of the lodge’s structures had so far remained intact, including the main lodge. While it will take time to assess all the damage around the lodge, its operators posted “we are deeply relieved that much of the property was spared and the resort will reopen in the future.”

Guests with upcoming reservations in the short term were advised their plans will be canceled as the full scope of the fire damage is evaluated. The lodge asks that anyone who has booked a visit call 800-257-7544 or 403-762-2211 to reach the reservations team for further guidance.

The staff went on to thank the many organizations that have fought the fire or offered assistance, care and relief. The lodge pledged its support to the community and colleagues when rebuilding efforts begin.

Grizzly bear cub breaks out moves in hilarious trail-cam footage

The approaching bears are robust and the vibe is suspenseful until one cub pauses to scratch its back on a tree.

An organization that monitors wild horses in Alberta, Canada, has published a video “re-run” showing a grizzly bear with two large cubs approaching a trail camera.

The bears are robust and the music is suspenseful until one cub pauses to scratch its back on a tree, at which point the audio becomes lively and the mood upbeat.

The footage was captured in 2022 and edited by the Help Alberta Wildies Society, which uses remote motion-sensor cameras to help monitor wild horse herd sizes and behaviors.

Grizzly bears share the same habitat and HAWS has published several clips showing bears trying to run down a foal or catch a fallen horse.

Most HAWS social-media videos are sharp and cleverly edited.

An editor stated Wednesday via Facebook: “I’m waiting for a new iMac computer to arrive, hopefully tomorrow, before I can build new movies. In the meantime we can watch some re-runs.”

Wolf steals trail camera and video evidence ‘is a bit telling’

A remote trail camera in Alberta, Canada, has captured nighttime footage showing a wolf running off with another camera.

A remote trail camera in Alberta, Canada, has captured nighttime footage showing a wolf running off with another camera.

The footage is amusing in that viewers can track the purloined camera in the wolf’s muzzle because of a bright light detected by other trail cameras.

The cameras are monitored by the Help Alberta Wildies Society (HAWS), which conducts research on wild horses.

“In case there was any doubt about who ran off with the trail camera, the evidence is a bit telling,” HAWS joked on Facebook.

HAWS informed followers that it retrieved the camera and “it was pretty chewed up but it kept recording.”

HAWS added that the infrared light from the camera is not visible to wolves or humans. The only reason viewers can see the light is because it was detected by other cameras utilizing the same technology.

“The trailcams pick up that light when they’ve been triggered by movement at night,” HAWS explained. “It was totally dark as far as the wolf could see.”

Two wolves are shown in the footage, including the camera thief, which ultimately trots in front of the camera that captured the footage.

The wolves belong to a pack of seven that “are picked up frequently by our cameras as they pass by our research areas for wild horses,” HAWS told FTW Outdoors.

It was not clear why the wolf removed the camera from its anchor but several viewers joked, before being educated on the invisibility of infrared light, that it might have needed a flashlight.

Watch: Suspenseful grizzly bear approach features comical twist

Footage showing a grizzly bear and two cubs approaching a trail camera takes an amusing turn, thanks to some clever editing.

A group that strives to protect wild horses in Alberta, Canada, has published footage showing a grizzly bear with two cubs approaching a trail camera.

The bears are large and the music is ominous-sounding until one cub pauses to exhibit scent-marking behavior, which inspires some clever editing.

Suddenly, the situation is upbeat and viewers might feel like swaying to the music.

The footage was captured and edited by the Help Alberta Wildies Society (HAWS), which deploys motion-sensor cameras to monitor wild horse herd sizes and behaviors.

Grizzly bears share the same habitat and HAWS has published several clips showing bears trying to run down a foal or catch a fallen horse.

Click here to view one of the more dramatic chase scenes captured by a HAWS camera.

Watch: Wild horses flee with grizzly bear in hot pursuit

A trail camera in Alberta, Canada has captured footage showing a grizzly bear chasing wild horses, likely in the hope of capturing a foal.

A trail camera in Canada has captured footage of a grizzly bear chasing wild horses, likely in the hope of capturing a foal.

The accompanying footage, shared June 16 by the Help Alberta Wildies Society (HAWS), shows several horses sprinting across a creek, followed seconds later by the charging grizzly bear.

Days later, HAWS explained in another video post that the band of horses included two foals. That footage showed the horses before “the chase” and the narrator said it was not clear if the bear succeeded in its hunt.

“[A] grizzly can sustain a run at 25-28 mph for up to 2 miles,” HAWS explained. “We won’t know until our next camera run if all of this band made it.”

RELATED: Wild horse definitely feeling its oats in amusing trail-cam footage 

The nonprofit’s cameras documented a similar but more dramatic scene in May 2022. The footage (posted below) shows a head-on view of the horses running for their lives and the bear in ferocious pursuit.

After that incident, HAWS stated: “The next time someone tells you that the Wild Horses have no natural predators, send them to me. We are losing a lot of horses this year, sooner and quicker than in past years. Not just the foals. Adults also.”

–Image is a video screen grab

MORE: Can you spot the hidden animal in these 14 photos?

Bear kills dog in Jasper National Park, a warning for pet owners

The mauling of a dog by a bear Saturday in Canada’s Jasper National Park underscores the risk associated with bringing pets into the wilderness.

The fatal mauling of a dog by a bear Saturday in Canada’s Jasper National Park underscores the risk associated with bringing pets into the wilderness.

Parks Canada, which manages the country’s national parks, confirmed Monday that a black bear attacked and killed one of two dogs being walked by visitors on the Wabasso Lake Trail.

Jasper National Park, in Alberta, described the incident in a news release: “They were approached at close range by a black bear and the bear attacked one of the dogs. The hikers then deployed bear spray in an effort to deter the bear.”

RELATED: Black bear breaks into nature center, kills famous deer

Parks Canada did not mention the type of dog or whether its was illegally allowed off-leash. But Jasper National Park stated: “This is a sad reminder that all pets should be kept under control and on-leash at all times within a national park.”

A team of human-wildlife confrontation experts responded to the incident, which remains under investigation. The area is closed while experts try to locate the bear involved in the attack.

–Generic black bear image courtesy of Alan D. Wilson

Alberta lifts ban on UFC betting with James Krause under investigation

Alberta had banned betting on UFC over integrity concerns.

After a week-long ban, UFC betting in the Canadian province Alberta is permitted again, Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis announced Friday.

AGLC reversed course after retired fighter and current UFC coach James Krause’s license was suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. On Dec. 2, AGLC had announced that wagers on UFC were no longer allowed to be offered or accepted due to potential risks of wagering integrity. That same day, UFC announced that Krause would not be able to participate in UFC events pending the outcome of an investigation.

The suspensions of Krause, his managers and fighters are the reason why AGLC lifted its ban on betting.

AGLC’s ban had come the same week as a ban in Ontario on UFC betting.

That ban has not been lifted, though the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario reportedly said it’s encouraged by the recent developments.

Suspicious betting on a fight between Darrick Minner and Shayilan Nuerdanbieke on Nov. 5 triggered the investigation into Krause, who coaches Minner.

[mm-video type=video id=01gkwffcj05c8r6m2rhn playlist_id=none player_id=01evcfkb10bw5a3nky image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gkwffcj05c8r6m2rhn/01gkwffcj05c8r6m2rhn-73a489ec3642f61f73f2dc26cf61ac70.jpg]

[listicle id=1992639]

Alberta becomes second Canadian province to ban UFC betting over integrity issues

Alberta joins Ontario in banning UFC betting.

Alberta has joined Ontario in banning wagers on UFC events, according to reports Friday that cite a statement from Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis.

According to the statement, Alberta stopped offering and accepting UFC bets effective Thursday, the same day Ontario also banned UFC wagers due to concerns about the UFC’s non-compliance with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario’s betting integrity requirements.

The Ontario commission said it learned of publicized alleged incidents in recent weeks, including possible betting by UFC insiders and reports of suspicious betting patterns in other jurisdictions.

Alberta also cited possible risks of wagering integrity as its reason.

Retired fighter and current coach James Krause’s license was suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, the UFC announced Friday per ESPN’s David Purdham. It was not immediately clear if the suspension was related to the bans in Canada.

Pending bets on the UFC in Alberta were voided and returned to players.

[listicle id=1990040]

[mm-video type=video id=01gk9ydfa96k0mnxstwb playlist_id=none player_id=none image=]