Parks Canada tried to capture and collar at least two wolves from the Bow Valley pack to get a better handle on their movements and behaviour in this busy region – just days before a ski hill worker at Mount Norquay reported fleeing on a snowmobile from the animals.
Parks officials say the report suggests the wolves were bold but not aggressive, noting the three remaining members of the troubled pack came within three to five metres of the Norquay employee as he worked on snowmaking equipment in the early hours of Dec. 7.
“He hopped on a Ski-Doo and took off,” said Bill Hunt, Banff’s resource conservation manager. “The wolves followed; they were trotting behind him so he sped up, and the next time he looked they were gone.”
Hunt said wolves approaching people at such close range and then following a person on a Ski-Doo could not be described as “normal behaviour.
“Typically, wolves would not hang around or want to be around loud and noisy ski equipment and a Ski-Doo. This latest behaviour is a bit of a red flag and certainly of concern,” he said.
“There’s a broad range of possibilities for that behavior … instinctual to follow something that’s moving, to curious behaviour, to perhaps defending territory or associating a person with getting a food reward. There was no kill site found in the area.”
It’s been a tough year for Bow Valley wolves, with only three members of the beleaguered pack remaining – a grey-coloured Alpha male, a black male sub-adult wolf and a grey-coloured female sub-adult. Four of the pack’s pups were killed on the train tracks this year.
In addition, two female wolves, including the Alpha female and a female yearling, were shot and killed this summer following a series of incidents that led wildlife official to believe they had become food-conditioned and potentially a public safety risk.
Many campers were charged this year, including two who were both fined $1,000 each after it was determined one of the wolves shot by resource conservation officers was attracted to food at their Two Jack Lake campsite.
After last week’s Norquay incident, Hunt said the three wolves worked their way up 40 Mile Creek where they killed a mule deer.
He said there has been evidence of the pack moving through town and around town, but the wolves haven’t gotten into any food or garbage in recent times.
“In that time, they’ve been hunting and have been successful in getting elk, so things look most promising, apart from this latest incident at Norquay,” he said.
“They are getting normal and natural food and have been seen feeding on elk, whether they’ve killed them themselves or have scavenged a carcass.”
Early last week, Parks Canada was working with contractor Bighorn Helicopters to try to capture at least two of the wolves, but was unsuccessful.
They plan to try again this winter when conditions allow. The plan also involves capturing and collaring a couple of members of each of the Fairholme pack and the Panther-Cascade pack.
“We’re wanting to maintain at least two collars on each of the three packs, but in the initial round we’re focusing on the Bow Valley pack,” said Hunt.
“We’d like to get collars on them and get a better understanding of where they’re travelling and how they’re travelling around built up areas.”
The wolf warning remains in place.
Parks Canada reminds people to never approach, entice or feed wildlife.
Ensure all food and garbage is securely stored.
Supervise children and keep pets on a leash at all times.
If you are approached by a wolf, act aggressively to discourage it from approaching.
Carry bear spray and know how to use it.
Please immediately report all carnivore sightings, or unattended food or garbage, to Banff Dispatch at 403-762-1470.
