A black bear has been spotted southwest of Calgary

The bear is located southwest of Calgary's Discovery Ridge community, a section of Griffith Woods Park that is covered in bear traps set to trap the animal.

“My hope is that they're going to come sooner, so we're going to report it and get it out of here,” Discovery Ridge resident Cody Tritter said.

This is not the first time for the residents of the district, who have now taken the necessary precautions.

City residents are asked to observe the “Smart Bear” practice by placing their trash carts no earlier than 5 a.m. and no later than 7 a.m. on collection days and leaving their trash carts until 7 p.m.

Residents are also asked to clean their strollers periodically and store them in a garage or other safe place.

“We think it's inconvenient, but a lot of people are afraid of bears and I think that's their choice,” one person told CityNews.

“Especially when the forest is so close, wildlife is definitely true,” said the resident.

According to the Discovery Ridge community, the bear was rummaging through the trash that was placed outside the neighboring houses on Friday.

“Last year in October, we saw a black bear and it hung out in the community until it went into hibernation until mid-November, and then it showed up again on our trail camera about a week ago,” Tritter said. “So we got some footage of it. I was just sitting in the backwoods trying to find food coming out of hibernation.”

This isn't the first bear incident on Discovery Ridge, which is close to wildlife habitats in the city's far southwest.

In October 2022, wildlife officials had to euthanize a black bear and her four cubs, prompting changes to the city's litter ordinance.

“I think because we live so close to the park and so close to nature, we have an obligation to keep our trash cans inside and do everything we can to keep their lives separate from us while we live together. One woman told CityNews.

“I think the bears have as much right to be here as we do, so we have to do everything we can to protect the bears and protect ourselves, we both have to look out,” said another.

Anyone who sees the bear is asked to contact Alberta Fish and Wildlife.