Fruit Tree Replacement Program

Discouraging bears from entering the Jasper townsite requires a community-wide approach. Removing bear attractants keeps people safe and gives bears the best chance of survival. In the spring of 2024, Parks Canada launched a Fruit Tree Replacement Program for Jasper residents and businesses. This initiative provides a replacement (non-fruit-bearing) tree to leaseholders who remove a non-native fruit tree from their property. 2026 will be the final year of this program.

Parks Canada’s human-wildlife coexistence team responded to over 400 bear-related incidents in the Jasper townsite in 2023. Mother bears are teaching their cubs that the town is a good place to find food, and the bears are becoming increasingly habituated. Once bears feed on fruit, they will repeatedly come back for more and keeping these bears out of town is not possible while fruit remains accessible as a food source. While these animals are not demonstrating any aggression towards people at this point, bears in residential areas pose a risk to public safety. Incidents include bears feeding in trees near schools, daycares and playgrounds; unexpectedly encountering residents; bluff-charging dogs and people; and searching for food in buildings and backyards from sources such as bird feeders, coolers and compost bins. In Jasper National Park, bears naturally forage on a variety of foods including native berries, nuts, insects, roots, flowers, fish and small mammals. Encouraging bears to rely on these natural food sources gives them a better chance of survival.

Program highlights

Eligibility

• Jasper residents and businesses who previously removed non-native fruit trees from their properties between 2019 and 2025.
• Residents and businesses who remove fruit trees in 2026.
• Jasper residents who participated in the program in 2024 but subsequently lost their new trees to the 2024 wildfire are eligible to sign up for another replacement tree.
• Fruit trees are eligible for replacement on a one-to-one ratio, with a maximum of 5 trees per household.

Tree types and availability

• Three tree species will be available in 2026: ‘Snowdance’ Japanese Tree Lilac, Red Rocket Maple, and native aspen.
• Replacement trees will be approximately 6 feet tall and 1–1.5 inches in diameter, ensuring a strong start for growth.
• Delivery of trees is scheduled for mid-May 2026. Recipients are encouraged to plant their trees within two weeks of delivery to ensure optimal establishment.

Upcoming activities

Tree arrival

Replacement trees will arrive at Jasper National Park in mid-May, 2026, and will be delivered to residents soon after. 

Important considerations

Bird nesting window

During the bird nesting window (April 21 to August 13), tree removals are restricted unless a comprehensive nest survey ensures no active nests are present. Regular removals will resume on August 14, 2026.

Planting instructions

Detailed planting instructions will accompany each tree. Please ensure to "click before you dig" by visiting utilitysafety.ca for information on underground utility lines.