Cathy Ellis KOOTENAY
National park law enforcement wardens are investigating two incidents in which visitors were feeding bears in Kootenay National Park.
The two cases prompted Parks Canada to implement an annual no-stopping zone on an 11-kilometre stretch of Highway 93 South to reduce the chance of bears getting hit by vehicles, or fed by people, as they hang out roadside and feed on early season greenup and dandelions.
Parks Canada officials say there is at least one grizzly bear with a two-year-old cub, and as many as five black bears in the area, noting the grizzly cub was seen and photographed with a drink cup.
Jan Stuart-Smith, human-wildlife conflict specialist for Lake Louise, Yoho and Kootenay, said there have been two known instances this year in which visitors have attempted to feed bears in that area.
“They were trying to throw food or some kind of food attractant from their vehicles. Our law enforcement folks are investigating those incidents. People are either intentionally, or without knowing any better, feeding wildlife in that area,” he said.
“We are trying to avoid a situation where a bear becomes food conditioned and starts approaching people to get food rewards, which has the potential to be quite dangerous for people and not good for the bear.”
The no-stopping zone has been an annual spring restriction since 2014 after a female grizzly showed up with her two cubs, causing dangerous traffic jams as motorists pulled over to take photos and watch them.
It’s believed to be the same female grizzly in the area again this year, but this time, she’s showed up with just one cub.
The no-stopping zone is along a stretch of the highway from McKay Compound to Cobb Lake. The Olive Lake day use site is also closed. Only commercial vehicles are allowed to stop at the southbound brake check.
Parks Canada wildlife and law enforcement officers, with assistance from the local RCMP detachment, will routinely patrol the area to ensure motorists are complying with the no-stopping zone.
Charges can be laid for people not adhering to the no-stopping zone or caught feeding wildlife.
Stuart-Smith said the no-stopping zone is in place a little earlier than previous years because greenup is early this year, and there is already a high concentration of bears in the area.
“We want to reduce the potential for vehicle accidents, as well as reduce the chance of a bear getting struck on the road,” he said.
