An off-leash dog killed a mule deer near the Engine Bridge in Canmore on the morning of Sunday, October 11, and the Town of Canmore says the case is under investigation.
The town described the dog as a reddish-brown golden retriever and said the attack happened between 10 and 11 a.m. Municipal Enforcement Community Peace Officers responded, and the town says the person with the dog left the scene with it when officers attended.
In an update on Monday, October 12, the town said it had been in contact with the dog’s owner. It is working on the file with Alberta Forestry and Parks conservation officers.
Key facts
- The Town of Canmore reported that an off-leash dog killed a mule deer near the Engine Bridge between 10 and 11 a.m. on October 11, 2026.
- The Town of Canmore said on October 12, 2026 that it had contacted the dog’s owner and that the incident remained under investigation with Alberta Forestry and Parks conservation officers.
- The Town of Canmore’s published fines for an off-leash dog are $250 for a first offence, $500 for a second and $1,000 for a third or later offence.
- The Town of Canmore’s published fines for a dog harassing wildlife are $750 for a first offence, $1,500 for a second and $2,500 for a third or later offence.
What the town has confirmed so far
Confirmed by the town: the date and hour, the location by the Engine Bridge, the species, the breed description, and that it has reached the owner. Confirmed as ongoing: a joint investigation by municipal enforcement and provincial conservation officers.
Not public as of Tuesday morning: whether a ticket or charge has been issued, which bylaw section or provincial law officers are applying, and the owner’s identity. The town has not said when it will report an outcome.
What Canmore’s rules say about dogs and wildlife
Canmore regulates dogs under its Animal Control Bylaw 2024-03, which licenses dogs kept in town and allows off-leash use only in areas the town designates. In its update on the incident, the town called the attack “an important reminder that leashes save lives,” and restated that keeping a pet on leash is the law.
The penalties climb with repeat offences. The town’s published fine schedule sets an off-leash dog at $250 for a first offence, $500 for a second and $1,000 for a third. A dog harassing wildlife costs more, at $750, $1,500 and $2,500. Leaving wildlife attractants outdoors, fruit included, starts at $1,000 and reaches $10,000 for a third offence.
The town groups all three offences under its Animal Control and Community Standards bylaws, which it describes as designed to raise public safety and reduce negative encounters between people and wildlife.
Why a single deer is a town and provincial file
The Engine Bridge crosses the Bow River close to town, in a valley shared with elk, deer and large carnivores, including Banff’s Bear 122 to the west. A mule deer killed beside a trail is a bylaw matter for the town and a wildlife matter for the province, which is why both enforcement agencies are on this one.
The town is asking anyone with information to contact Canmore Municipal Enforcement at 403-678-4244 or [email protected]. The next public step is the town’s report on whether enforcement action follows.
