You really have to wonder about the thought process, or whether there is one, in the minds of people who ignore bear warnings and head on into a closed area.
Even more so, you really have to wonder about the mindset of parents or guardians that take kids beyond the tape. Not only is it setting a bad example for impressionable youngsters – irresponsible adults doing so are actually putting children in danger.
Are there hikers out there who believe wildlife managers close areas, place warning tape and signs just to have a little piece of wonderful wilderness all to themselves? Do people suspect somebody got their hands on official closure materials to ensure they have a solo wander in the wilderness? Is there an X-Files way of thinking that might suggest entering a closed area, much like sneaking into Area 51, might result in the spotting of aliens?
Here at the Outlook, we believe the idea of entering closed areas should be an alien one.
Are people wandering into closed areas, cameras in hand, hoping for the bear photo of a lifetime? Are they hoping to spot Winnie with his honeypot?
For the clueless out there, the fact wildlife managers place a bear trap in a given location means there is likely a bear somewhere nearby that is a concern, or has already caused a problem.
These problem (difficult … suspect ..?) bears are baited with stinky animal offal placed in the traps. By entering a closed area and approaching a trap, you are placing yourself near what a bear may protectively think of as a food source. Worse yet, you might find yourself between a female and her cubs, or, still worse yet, find yourself near a trap a cub had been caught in, with its mother angrily deciding what to do about it.
These things happen. Near Quarry Lake a few years ago, a bear trap was in place along Canmore Creek when some geniuses decided to spray paint some graffiti on it. Whether they knew it or not, just metres away, a grizzly had been rototilling the creekbank in search of bugs or roots, and so was clearly in the area. The sight of large rocks and downed trees being rolled over and large craters excavated by large claws should be enough warning for almost anybody.
Bear spray is one thing when it comes to personal protection from bears … spray paint is something else again and worthless in coaxing a bruin to head the other way.
Then there was the person who managed to get caught inside a bear trap. Other than spending the night with a rank beaver carcass used for bait, this genius may well have been safer in the trap than outside it (traps will keep bears in, so it follows they would also keep bears out).
So, unless you’re hoping to be featured in a front page story in the Outlook and likely across the country (possibly posthumously), or you’re bent on winning a Darwin Award (look it up), we strongly suggest accepting the fact that wildlife managers have used their best judgment and closed an area for good reason.
It’s not like there are only a couple of trails available in our Rocky Mountains.
