Bear in Jasper National Park. Photo Credit: dreamstime.com

By Shane Clausing

jasper national park

Jasper National Park issues order to keep humans, wildlife separated

Jun 22, 2020 | 5:00 AM

With Jasper National Park reopened, visitors to the park are being reminded to keep their distance from wildlife, or risk a hefty fine.

Park officials say this season they have seen a noticeable amount of people pulling over onto the side of busy roads and getting out of the vehicles, to take pictures of grizzly bears and their cubs.

“When we talk about these roadside viewing encounters, we have had an increase recently in the number of incidents of the number of people crowding wildlife roadside,” said David Argument, the Resource Conservation Officer for Jasper National Park. “That leads to an unsafe experience for the visitors where they are out of their vehicles on high traffic roadways like the Yellowhead highway, but it’s also not safe for wildlife. It results in habituation and can lead to problems down the road for these animals that are put under constant stress by being crowded by people out of the vehicles.”

As a result of visitors getting closer to wildlife, on June 9, Jasper National Park’s Superintendent implemented a Restrictive Activity Order, which falls under the General Regulations of Canada National Parks Act.

The act bars visitors from getting within 100 metres of any bear, cougar, wolf or within 30 metres of any elk, moose, caribou, sheep, or goat except when completely inside a legally positioned motor vehicle.

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Visitors that fail to obey the rules can face stiff penalties such as a maximum fine of up to $25,000 and a mandatory court date.

Argument says that they want to make sure that visitors are getting the message.

“It gives our enforcement personnel one more tool to use in cases where visitors are simply not compliant or repeatedly putting themselves in these situations and not following the recommendations.

“I’d refer to it as a tool of last resort, we certainly aren’t anticipating on having to rely on this tool frequently, but it gives us the ability to address those concerns where people are disregarding that guidance.”

While the fines could end up being stiff, Argument says at the end of the day, they want guests visiting the park to remain safe.

“We are here to try and ensure that people have a really valuable and fantastic experience. People come here in part because of the phenomenal wildlife viewing opportunities they can have in Jasper.”

Argument says the Restrictive Activity Order under the General Regulations of Canada National Parks Act is being used in a trial phase just for the month to see what happens over time. He mentioned that if there is a need to extend the act, they will do it.

Argument adds that the park does not want to see this rule become permanent.