By Rory Hale – REALTOR®, CIR Realty, Rural Properties & Acreages near Calgary

Week 1 of 10

The gate swings, the fence line runs straight, and the gravel lane curls past a barn roof still dark from last night’s rain. Out here, buyers decide with their boots on the ground: approach, shelterbelts, and how the yard “works” tell the story long before they step inside the house. And it’s not just horse or cattle folks—recreational purchasers are a growing slice. They’re paying for privacy, tree-covered...

I want to start this post with my perspective and experience living with predators in the Alberta foothills. Every year we have been here, we have seen the big three: grizzlies, cougars, and wolves. It can be amazing, scary, and eye-opening to realize how much wildlife there is in Alberta.

We have been very aware of wildlife and ensuring we are not doing things to encourage interaction and draw any wildlife near our home. We know people have had issues; we are happy that we have not.

An essential part...