Two black bears, including a food-conditioned female bruin that got into food scraps and recycling at Brewster’s concessionaire at Lake Minnewanka earlier this week, have been captured, collared and released.
Two black bears, including a food-conditioned female bruin that got into food scraps and recycling at Brewster’s concessionaire at Lake Minnewanka earlier this week, have been captured, collared and released.
The bears were caught Wednesday afternoon (June 28) and were heavily hazed and scared away from the area later that evening. They are now being closely monitored and will be hazed any time they come close to busy day use areas or campgrounds.
The food-conditioned female bear returned to the Black Anchor Snack Shop in the busy day-use area Wednesday afternoon. The animal climbed a tree, where wildlife managers darted and captured her.
When resource conservation officers went to get the bear trap that had been set up in the upper parking lot earlier in the week in hopes of catching the food-conditioned bear, they found another bruin inside, a young male bear.
“We got a double whammy,” said Bill Hunt, resource conservation manager for Banff National Park. “Both were immobilized, collared and ear tagged and we did a ‘hard release’ on both bears later that night.”
On Wednesday night, wildlife experts set up in a safe location and moved people out of the area for the ‘hard release’, a management technique in which a captured bear is not hauled away but given a rather rude departure in the area it was caught.
“We do everything we can to give a bear the message that this is not an area we want a bear to be in – lots and lots of noise and bear spray and harassing it and yelling at it,” said Hunt.
The female bear, which is identified by its unique colouring – fairly light with dark forelimbs – appeared healthy and in good condition. The younger male bear was in fair condition.
Based on its description, the female bear is the one that accessed food at backcountry campgrounds along the Lake Minnewanka shoreline a few weeks earlier in June.
The younger male bruin had been seen investigating garbage bins, and licking hydraulic oil off the bear-proof bins at Lake Minnewanka day use area. Those bins have since been replaced.
“We’ll monitor him through his collar, but we don’t anticipate any more trouble form that bear,” said Hunt.
The female black bear accessed unsecured recycling and food, including meat, at Black Anchor Snack Shop at Lake Minnewanka day use in the early morning hours of Monday (June 26).
“Law enforcement is investigating now,” said Hunt. “My understanding is the bear got into left over food items as well as a lot of recycling materials that have lots of odours. It actually obtained things to eat.”
The incident at the Black Anchor was one of three concerning incidents that day, and follows on the heels of two other incidents at backcountry campgrounds on Lake Minnewanka.
Later on Monday, the black bear approached a family cooking on the tailgate of their vehicle at the top end of the back parking lot, and also returned to the Black Anchor to look for food.
“The family was cooking on their tailgate and so the bear wandered onto the paved area,” Hunt said.
“Those folks got stuff put away and deterred the bear, yelling and screaming, and jumped into their vehicle.”
Hunt said extra staff are on duty for the Canada Day long weekend to patrol day use areas and picnic spots.
He said Parks Canada is working with Brewster to make sure the Black Anchor snack shop is “squeaky clean”, noting the company has been cooperating fully.
“It’s absolutely critical that neither of these bears receive any additional food rewards,” he said.
Hunt said Parks Canada is hopeful the intensive hazing on the food-conditioned bear can be successful in turning her behaviour around, noting he does not believe she’s been part of an aversive conditioning program before.
“We’re always hopeful and we wouldn’t have proceeded down this route if we weren’t,” he said, referring to the future fate of this bear.
“The purpose right now is to give her that chance to test whether we can modify her behaviour, but we’re going to have a short window of opportunity to turn that behaviour,” he added.
“It’s less about what we do and it’s more about whether she gets one food reward. If she gets into one picnic basket, or one bit of dog food, two weeks of aversive conditioning will be out the window.”
Brewster Travel Canada officials say the bear gained access to a paper recycling bin near the Black Anchor snack shop early Monday.
Spokesperson Michelle Gaudet said a Parks Canada employee was the first to discover the over-turned recycling bin, and after Parks staff cleared the area, Brewster immediately removed the debris.
“Our commitment to environmental stewardship and new recycling initiatives has created an increased load of recyclable materials,” she wrote in an email.
“We are working to improve managing this increased load, including the installation of additional bear-proof recycling containers, to avoid this situation from happening again.”
Hunt said Parks Canada continues to work hard to educate visitors about appropriate behaviour and the dangers of feeding wildlife, but noted it’s a shared responsibility to keep bears and people safe.
“We are really depending on local businesses, residents, stakeholders and visitors to play their role in showing respect for wildlife in Banff National Park and keeping food, garbage, pet food and any other attractants secure,” he said.
“It’s becoming increasingly frustrating to see bears getting access to food in our national parks. Anytime a bear finds food, and physically gets a piece for the belly, you’re just sealing that bear’s fate.”
All campgrounds along Lake Minnewanka, including Lm8, 9, 11, 20 and 22, are closed, but the shoreline trail remains open. A warning is in place for the trail, Minnewanka day use area and nearby Two Jack Main and Lakeside campgrounds.
Be prepared to encounter a bear at any time in this area:
• All food, garbage, and anything with odours must be closely attended at all times.
• Fire pits should not be used to dispose of garbage or liquids.
• All food and garbage must be disposed of in a proper receptacle.
• Pay attention for bears when travelling in this area.
• Make noise when hiking and cycling.
• Keep pets on leash and a close eye on children.
• Carry bear spray and know how to use it.
• Report all bear sightings immediately to Banff visitor centre or Banff dispatch at 403-762-1470.
