Two areas within Banff National Park have been closed to protect denning wolves – and Parks Canada warns that park wardens are patrolling and people will be charged if they ignore the closures.
The annual closures, which include the Hillsdale area of the Bow Valley west of Banff and the Fairholme Bench east of Banff where two separate wolf packs are known to den, came into effect April 1 and will be in place until mid-July.
“We do recognize that wolves are sensitive at this particular time of year when at den sites,” said Steve Michel, human-wildlife conflict specialist for Banff National Park.
“We don’t want humans to accidentally or deliberately get too close to these sites because it could cause abandonment of denning locations and could jeopardize pup survival.”
Michel said Parks Canada has had issues in the past with some dedicated photographers getting too close to den sites.
“That’s a concern in terms of habituation levels,” he said.
“We know some of these individuals have certainly set up blinds and things like that very close to den sites so they’re able to get photos they desire – and that’s concerning to us.”
Violators of the closure could face charges under the Canada National Parks Act and could face a maximum fine of $25,000 in court.
“Our law enforcement wardens are actively monitoring these closure locations to ensure compliance of the public,” said Michel.
“We appreciate and respect that people take these closures seriously and are not going in and violating them.”
In Banff National Park, wolves show a strong affinity to low-elevation valley bottoms due to weather, prey abundance and prey distribution.
Pups grow inside their mother for about 63 days before being born, and at birth they weigh only about one pound.
Newborns are blind and deaf at birth and depend upon their mother for warmth and milk, and typically open their eyes within two weeks. The whole pack takes care of and raises the pups.
By about two weeks of age, the pups can walk, and about a week after that, they may come out of the den for the first time. From there, growth is rapid and by the time the pups are six months old, they are almost as big as the adult wolves.
Paul Paquet, considered one of the world’s leading wolf experts, welcomes the closures of the areas surrounding the denning sites of the two packs, saying wolves needs space in this critical time.
He said an average litter size for wolves is four to six, but sometimes fewer pups are born and sometimes more.
“It’s prudent to be closing areas off to protect wolves and people,” said Paquet, who studied wolves in Banff National Park for many years. “This time of year is a sensitive time for the wolves.”
