BANFF, Alberta - Two mothers from Canmore, out for a stroll with their toddlers, got a scary reminder that grizzly bears don't den up just because there's snow on the ground. A large bear trailed them for about five minutes at a distance of 45 to 60 feet before it wandered off toward a nearby creek. They told the Rocky Mountain Outlook that the bear showed no signs of aggression.

"I've never seen a bear that big," said Crista-Lee Mitchell. "I felt very overwhelmed. You could almost hear it breathing."

Parks Canada wildlife officials noted that grizzly bears, particularly large males, can remain out well into fall. The latest report last year was on Dec. 24, and the earliest sighting was in early March.