‘Respect closures like this. There’s causes they have been put into place, and that is for the security of wildlife — and likewise individuals.’
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Hungry grizzly bears and photo-driven guests have led to the introduction of a no stopping zone for a bit of Freeway 1A in Banff Nationwide Park, with violators probably going through hefty fines.
Starting on Friday final week, Parks Canada issued the no stopping zone for a 320-etre stretch of Freeway 1A west of Baker Creek and East of Safety Mountain Campground. ‘Stopping is Prohibited’ indicators are posted to point the affected space.
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Violators might face obligatory court docket appearances and be handed a positive starting from $115 to $25,000.
The zone, a brief restriction, was applied attributable to two giant male grizzlies which have frequented the world, resulting in customer curiosity generated by posts on social media, mentioned Charlie McLellan, performing wildlife ecologist in Banff, Yoho, and Kootenay nationwide parks.
“The variety of individuals visiting the positioning and the situation has made it probably hazardous for each the bear(s) and probably individuals as effectively.”
He famous that the situation is adjoining to coach tracks, which makes it much less supreme to park within the space, and likewise raises considerations that bears fleeing approaching trains might run towards individuals stopped on the highway.
Parks Canada wildlife workers had been witnessing an elevated customer presence, he mentioned.
“Issues had been seeming to escalate, and it was decided it wasn’t actually a protected viewing alternative for individuals,” McLellan mentioned. “Individuals had been sitting there for hours on finish, and we’re getting dozens of automobiles (stopped),”
The zone is supposed as a “instrument” to mitigate impacts to wildlife and guests.
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Additionally enjoying into the restriction was the potential of bears turning into extra habituated to individuals and automobiles.
McLellan mentioned it’s probably the bears are within the space due to grain across the practice tracks that collected in the course of the winter.
“That’s engaging to the bears this time of yr as a result of there actually isn’t lots of different wealthy meals sources early within the spring.”
Some giant male grizzly bears are out of hibernation earlier within the spring, foraging something they’ll till different meals turn into out there, he mentioned.
Though it’s unclear precisely when the no stopping zone can be lifted, it can seemingly be tied to bear exercise within the space as different meals sources turn into out there, McLellan mentioned.
“We by no means wish to affect individuals’s visits, and we respect that lots of guests come to see bears. When it’s protected to take action, we like to supply these alternatives.”
Exterior of the no stopping zone, McLellan mentioned their viewing tips advocate travelling in teams of 4 or extra, staying in a car at any time when attainable, sustaining a 100 metre distance, and carrying bear spray.
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“Respect closures like this. There’s causes they’ve been put into place, and that’s for the security of wildlife — and likewise individuals.”
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Nick de Ruyter, WildSmart program director at Canmore’s Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley, agreed with Parks Canada’s transfer.
“No stopping zones are superb, and essential,” he mentioned.
With principally male grizzly bears, and black bears rising from their dens, de Ruyter mentioned they’re targeted on consuming this time of yr.
“I actually suppose they should have extra of those no stopping zones, or shut areas, as a result of these bears want peace and quiet to feed undisturbed.”
“After they have a whole lot or 1000’s of individuals operating up and attempting to take photos, it stresses them out, and will have an effect on how they eat and the way they survive the upcoming season,” mentioned de Ruyter.
He mentioned that for locations the place stopping is allowed, the important thing factor for guests is considering what’s greatest for the animal, which most significantly means preserving a distance of about 10 college bus lengths.
“You don’t must go up shut, you possibly can take photos from 100 metres away and nonetheless get shot.”
The WildSmart program has assets with details about bears and different wildlife, with the objective of serving to to show the neighborhood how one can safely coexist with wildlife and to cut back damaging human-wildlife interactions.
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