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Tunnel Mountain bear trapped

Parks Canada trapped and collared an adult female black bear on the weekend to track her movements after she got into human food or garbage at Tunnel Mountain Campground and a nearby resort.

Parks Canada trapped and collared an adult female black bear on the weekend to track her movements after she got into human food or garbage at Tunnel Mountain Campground and a nearby resort.

The federal agency has not confirmed whether charges are pending or have been laid against campers and the hotel, but the Town of Banff has been notified of the incident involving a resort.

“The Town has been notified. The Town has not yet issued charges pending further details from the warden’s office,” said Diana Waltmann, manager of communications for the Town of Banff.

Parks Canada officials say the bear accessed food or garbage along Tunnel Mountain Road on Aug. 20 and then at the campground on Aug. 25. No one is naming the hotel involved.

Traps were set and the bear was caught on Sunday night (Aug. 28), and then fitted with a tracking collar.

Jesse Whittington, wildlife ecologist for Banff National Park, said it’s unknown if the same bear was involved in both incidents, or even if the captured bear was the one that accessed food.

“We don’t know if it is the offending bear or not,” he said. “We’ll monitor her and we are leaving traps in place for another day or two.”

Whittington said the black bear was healthy, noting they could tell she was very old given her teeth were quite worn.

“She looked great and she had lots of fat on her,” he said. “She must be pretty savvy to have lived in the Bow Valley for so long amidst all the people and grizzly bears.”

Meanwhile, two members of the Bow Valley wolf pack – two young males – were seen near Tunnel Mountain Campground on Tuesday morning (Aug. 30), and a single uncollared wolf was seen near the campground Monday morning (Aug. 29).

“We don’t think they received any food or garbage, but their presence is another reminder for campers to keep their food stored securely,” Whittington said.

Failing to keep a clean campsite can result in eviction from the campground and could lead to a charge that comes with a fine of up to $25,000.


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