If you've ever thought Banff National Park was all turquoise lakes, polite elk, and picture-perfect mountain selfies, allow me to introduce you to the other side of paradise – Split Lip Banff's 600-pound reminder that the wilderness is not, in fact, a petting zoo.
His name is Split Lip. He's big, he's scarred, he's occasionally terrifying, and he's got a rivalry with another bear so intense it's basically a Netflix drama waiting to happen.
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Split Lip Encounter – Lake Louise December 20th
Split Lip was most recently spotted in December after wandering onto the slopes at Lake Louise Ski Resort, briefly shutting down a youth ski race as a safety precaution.
The large male grizzly, known to wildlife officials as Bear 136, crossed a busy run during the Santa Slalom event, prompting resort staff and Parks Canada to temporarily close parts of the hill while giving him space to move through the area.
Officials later confirmed that Split Lip safely left the developed area and returned to the backcountry within the day,
Meet Split Lip, Banff's Most Notorious Grizzly
Officially, he's Bear No. 136. Unofficially, he's Split Lip – a nickname earned from a very distinctive rip down the side of his mouth, likely the result of a past scrap with his arch-nemesis, “The Boss.” It's a scar that gives him a permanent “don't mess with me” look, and, honestly, it suits him.
As a mature male in his prime, Split Lip tips the scales between 500 and 600 pounds. He's got claws like ivory daggers, a reputation for rough-and-tumble living, and a certain swagger that says, “Yes, I might be eating dandelions today… but tomorrow? Who knows?”
The Split Lip and The Boss Saga
In Banff's bear world, The Boss (Bear 122) has long ruled the roost – a massive patriarch believed to have sired most of the park's cubs. But Split Lip's been circling that throne for years, and every so often, the two clash in encounters that make local photographers' careers.
The most famous showdown happened in July 2020. Picture this: Split Lip, minding his own business munching dandelions in a campground meadow, when The Boss stomps in like he owns the place (because, technically, he does).
The Boss spots him, charges like a furry freight train, and chases him three kilometres down the Bow Valley Parkway. No paws were thrown – this was more of an intimidation sprint – but the message was clear: The Boss wasn't giving up his crown just yet.
Why He's Called “Notorious”
Let's be clear – Split Lip isn't the villain in a Disney movie. His more unsettling behaviour, like killing other bears' cubs, is actually a natural reproductive strategy called sexually selected infanticide. Translation: by eliminating cubs that aren't his, he can mate with the mother sooner, passing on his own genes. It's brutal, but in bear terms, it's just Tuesday.
He's been linked to cub disappearances since at least 2014 and was once seen chasing a mother and her cubs across a half-frozen Lake Louise. In 2020, he was caught in the act near Morant's Curve, feeding on the remains of a 2.5-year-old cub. That incident was so dramatic that Parks Canada shut down the parkway to let him finish his meal in peace.
The Cannibalism Incident
If you're squeamish, skip this part. Back in 2015, park staff found the remains of a smaller grizzly (Bear 132) in Mystic Pass. Split Lip had been wearing a GPS collar that had just dropped off, and it was lying beside the carcass.
Officials said it was “strongly likely” he killed the bear before eating it. Again, disturbing to us, but to a hungry, dominant male in a lean food year, it's just efficient calorie management.
The Railway Buffet
Split Lip's spring dining hotspot? The railway. Not the Rocky Mountaineer's dining car, but the spilt grain that leaks from freight trains along the Bow Valley Parkway. After hibernation, natural food is scarce, so this human-made buffet is irresistible.
Unfortunately, it's also a magnet for human-wildlife conflict – and for run-ins with The Boss, who's also a regular customer.
The popularity of this location among bears – and the people desperate to photograph them – led to a 320-metre no-stopping zone in 2024 to reduce dangerous “bear jams” and keep overeager wildlife paparazzi from crawling along the tracks.
His Massive Banff National Park Territory
Split Lip's range covers at least 1,000 square kilometres, stretching from the busy Banff townsite to the remote backcountry of Mystic Pass, and even into Kootenay National Park and Kananaskis Country.
He's been spotted sauntering through the Lake Louise campground, sharing trails with startled hikers at Johnston Canyon, and trying to cross Banff's pedestrian bridge like he was just another tourist.
Wherever he goes, his choices follow a clear risk-reward pattern: places like the Bow Valley Parkway offer big payoffs in food or mating opportunities – but also put him in the public eye, and in direct conflict with The Boss.
Bold but Not Aggressive
Despite his intimidating resume, Split Lip isn't known for charging people unprovoked. He's habituated to humans – meaning he's learned we're not a threat – but that also means he doesn't give us much space.
He's walked within metres of hikers, foraged in campgrounds, and ignored crowds watching from their cars. This boldness is why Parks Canada focuses less on removing him and more on managing people.
The “Split Lip Bear Banff” Celebrity Effect
Social media has made Split Lip a star, and that's both a blessing and a curse. Photos and videos of him (and The Boss) rack up thousands of likes, but they also lead to traffic chaos and risky behaviour.
People get out of their cars, inch closer for selfies, and even sneak along active railway tracks to get “the shot.” Experts call them the “wildlife paparazzi,” and they're stressing the bears more than any predator ever could.
Some photographers have even stopped posting real-time sightings to avoid drawing crowds. As one put it, “The bears don't need that.”
The Scary Truth Behind the Legend
So yes, Split Lip Banff is an incredible wildlife sighting – but he's not a zoo exhibit. He's a living, breathing, unpredictable apex predator who has killed other bears, chased rivals for kilometres, and made a meal of both grain and grizzly alike.
Admire him, but do it from a safe distance, preferably inside a vehicle with the doors locked and your granola bars well-hidden.
What Split Lip Teaches Us About Banff National Park
Split Lip's story is more than campfire gossip. It's a lesson in how wildlife survives – and struggles – in one of the most visited national parks in the world. His rivalry with The Boss shapes the genetic future of the Bow Valley's grizzlies.
His reliance on spilt grain shows how human infrastructure alters animal behaviour. And his fame highlights how our fascination with wildlife can unintentionally put them at risk.
If Banff National Park is the stage, then Split Lip is both the lead actor and the cautionary tale. We can enjoy the show – but only if we remember that in this drama, we're the guests, not the stars.