Feeding a grizzly bear French fries in Kootenay National Park has cost an Edmonton man $2,500, signaling the courts are taking the illegal feeding of wildlife seriously.
Edmonton resident Valentin Ruse, who pleaded guilty in B.C. Provincial Court in Invermere last month, was slapped with the hefty fine for tossing a sub-adult grizzly bear French fries from the window of his vehicle on May 28.
He did this in a signed no-stopping zone along Highway 93 South in the southern end of Kootenay National Park – a restriction put in place each spring as bears wander there to feast on early season greenup such as dandelions, along the side of the road.
Neither Ruse nor Parks Canada law enforcement officials could be reached for comment before press time.
Bow Valley Naturalists welcome the fact that Parks Canada is charging people for this type of serious offence, hoping stiffer fines handed down by courts will act as a deterrent for others.
“I actually think he got off rather lightly for willfully contravening all common sense and law,” said Colleen Campbell, a member of BVN’s board of directors.
“I was pleased he just didn’t get a warning ticket. I don’t think warning tickets signal anybody else about the consequences of feeding wildlife.”
Feeding wildlife is extremely dangerous, for both people and bears. Once a bear gets an easy meal, it doesn’t forget and may head back for more of the same.
Campbell said leaving wildlife alone is better for their long-term survival.
“A bear learns quickly and it’s possible a bear has just the attitude and personality that enables it to absorb that lesson and look for food from humans in other situations,” she said.
“That puts humans at risk and also risks putting the bear to an early death. As soon as we deem humans are unsafe in a situation, or potentially unsafe, then we eliminate the animal.”
Earlier this month, Calgarian Adrian Tif pleaded guilty through an agent and was fined $400 in Canmore Provincial Court for feeding chocolate bars to bighorn sheep along Norquay Road in Banff National Park.
Witnesses reported to Parks Canada that Tif tossed the chocolate bars from his vehicle. Tif initially denied that and said he had thrown rocks. He did end up entering the guilty plea through his agent.
