Bragg Creek Wild – Nov 2026

WHAT FALL BRINGS:
* WORRISOME CHANGES TO THE BRAGG CREEK ASP
* SEASONAL CHANGES IN WILDLIFE BEHAVIOURS

BRAGG CREEK’S AREA STRUCTURE PLAN

Major changes in the September draft affect the hamlet community and the surrounding wild lands.

While BCW is not against development, it does defend responsible growth. Ecosystems must be protected so they remain healthy and functional for both wildlife and people.

What has changed? Significant Increases to Proposed Housing Density

The June draft of the ASP reflected the community’s input, with agreement on adding a proposed 350 housing units to the Hamlet Wood. Currently, the area contains 14 units. The September draft shows a significant increase to 850 units, or about 3.91 units per acre.

Environmental Protection Losses
The proposed urban density puts at risk what defines Bragg Creek and its environment in the expansion area:

• The 70% forest canopy retention requirement is gone.
• The wildlife forest buffer and wildlife corridor are gone west of Bragg Creek
• Fire-smarting around new homes would thin out the remaining canopy even further.

Water protection is also affected. The draft replaces the 2007 Greater Bragg Creek riparian policy with the County’s general policy. The 2007 plan set clear buffers of 50 metres along the Elbow River outside the hamlet and 30 metres for streams, tributaries and wetlands. There are currently no carryovers. The draft’s environmental map also leaves out most of the area’s wetlands.

What BCW Requests:

• Pause the September ASP draft submission to Council and hold a community engagement session explaining what has changed between the June and September versions.
• Keep density numbers in line with the ASP’s own vision. 
• Reinstate the earlier environmental standards.
• Restore the full 2007 riparian policy and definitions.
• Replace the wetland map with one that includes all area wetlands.

Have your say: This plan belongs to the whole community. Not to developers. You will have a final chance to voice your concerns directly to Council on November 12th at 9:00 am, either in person, via a letter or via a video. Please visit the following link for details and submission deadlines. www.rockyview.ca/media/3516

WILDLIFE WINTER READINESS STRATEGIES

Fall is a high-stakes season for animals in our area, and our neighbourhoods. A few simple habits can keep both people and animals safe.

Why now?
Bears are in “hyperphagia,” a stage of nearconstant eating before winter denning. Alberta BearSmart notes that bears can take in up to 20,000 calories a day. A bear doesn’t have to go looking far when it can readily find garbage, bird seed, pet food and fallen fruit. Once a bear learns that human food is easy to get, it will often return, and that is when a bear gets into trouble.

Elk, moose and deer are in rut, their breeding season. As cougars and coyotes follow their prey, with more deer seen feeding near homes, these predators may move in nearby too. Pets left outside, especially small dogs and cats, are at risk.

What it means for residents
Most encounters are harmless, but the risks are real: property damage, close calls on the road at dusk, and, most seriously, wildlife that gets removed because it has become used to people. Fish and Wildlife officers may have to relocate or destroy bears that repeatedly find food in neighbourhoods. When people are careless with food, the animals often pay the price.

What you can do
Most conflicts start with attractants, so that’s the best place to begin:

• Garbage: Store in a secure garage or shed, or use a bear-resistant bin. Put it out on collection morning (where applicable) and not the night before.
• Bird feeders: Take them down until winter snow arrives. Seeds attract bears as well as birds.
• Fruit trees and gardens: Pick fruit early and clean up windfalls regularly.
• Pet food and barbecues: Feed pets indoors and clean grills after each use. BBQ grease has a strong scent.
• Compost: Keep it contained and avoid adding meat or fish. Better yet, bring your organic refuse to the transfer site for composting.

On the trails:

• Bring bear spray and carry it where you can easily reach it, and know how to use it.
• Make noise on trails, and keep dogs leashed.
• Give ungulates plenty of space. If an animal changes its behaviour because of you, you’re too close.
• NEVER feed wildlife.

On the roads:

• Slow down at dawn and dusk, when animals are most active.
• Drive defensively, keep an eye on the ditches and expect the unexpected.
• If you see one deer, expect more nearby.

Be a good neighbour 
Wildlife safety is a community effort. One tidy yard helps, but a whole neighbourhood doing the same is far more effective. Talk with your neighbours, share tips, and help newcomers learn how things work out here. If you see an animal behaving aggressively, call Alberta Fish and Wildlife at 310-0000.

Bragg Creek Wild, supported by the Alberta BearSmart program, helps people and wildlife share this landscape safely. Learn more at www.braggcreekwild.ca.