Let’s not get carried away here …
Yes, grizzly bear 148 made one of her semi regular appearances in Canmore, and yes, she turned up in the ever-popular Quarry Lake area, and yes, the lake and off-leash dog area were all evacuated.
We can only imagine the sizzling phone connections between wildlife management bodies after the evacuation incident.
But for provincial wildlife officials to state she’ll be killed should she leave Banff National Park, return to Canmore and exhibit “concerning” behaviour?
Thus far, it appears Parks Canada managers, who claim 148 as their own as she spends most of her time in Banff, side with continuing to monitor the bear, haze her away from public contact and let her live a bear’s life.
On the other hand, it appears provincial wildlife managers, possibly haunted by past events, would prefer she be removed from the area – permanently.
Trouble is, there’s not a lot of middle ground between the two philosophies.
No doubt many people enjoying an afternoon at Quarry Lake left disappointed after being rousted by RCMP, Fish and Wildlife, Canmore Fire-Rescue and Town bylaw staff.
But from what we saw, nobody panicked, nobody lashed out in anger, and everybody moved in an orderly fashion to the parking lot with their tots, toys, coolers and beach blankets, etc. and left the area. Even after the area was cleared, later that evening, people who drove up to the gate of the parking lot simply left when they saw the dangerous bear in area sign.
We realize there will always be those whose sense of entitlement causes them to ignore wildlife signage and closures, but little can be done about them, other than enforcement.
Really, Monday’s evacuation incident, we feel is what people should expect (or be told to expect in no uncertain terms) when they visit the Bow Valley. This is a wildlife area, which means that the same wildlife that draws locals and visitors alike to this area is here, in place, anywhere and everywhere, and it should come as no great surprise if an area, or trail, or park, is suddenly closed.
Possibly provincial wildlife managers and their Edmonton head office honchos should take a page from Parks Canada’s playbook for the 2017 free pass situation – try to manage, reduce or encourage altered levels of expectations of what their experience may be in a national park.
Signage (we know, many people think it’s no help at all, and yes, it’s often ignored) could be placed at popular areas, with wording to the effect of “You are in a wildlife area. The area may be closed at any time due to the presence of wildlife.”
If nothing else, at least there would be some warning should another Quarry Lake evacuation-type situation arise, and possibly less disappointment.
We realize public safety is paramount, but we do feel locals and visitors alike must realize this is a wildlife area and in some cases that wildlife will receive priority over humans – for a short period of time.
Moving forward, we hope provincial and federal wildlife managers can iron out some kind of agreement in how wildlife, bears in particular, will be managed should they wander back and forth over a national park border they don’t realize they’re crossing.
Would it even be possible to have a ‘no bear’ zone?
