Banff National Park has closed a popular hiking trail as a pre-emptive move to combat human-wildlife conflict in the area.
The Aylmer Pass, a well-know trail in Banff’s backcountry at Lake Minnewanka, was closed on Monday (July 24) due to a bumper crop of Buffalo Berries (Shepherdia) in the area, which will undoubtedly attract hungry bears looking to fatten up for the winter.
“The berry crop in the past few weeks has come due to the warm spring conditions,” said Banff Park Warden Ron LeBlanc, who was out taping off the Aylmer Pass trail on Monday.
LeBlanc stressed the Lakeshore Trail, which runs along Lake Minnewanka, is still open to the public, but that visitors should be aware the area is still an attractant to bears. Walking along the trail, the warden pointed out Buffalo Berry bushes line the length of the trail for as far as the eye can see.
Traditionally, Parks officials have chosen to close the Aylmer Pass in a reactive manner. This year, however, the government agency has elected to pre-emptively shut the six-kilometre trail in order to avoid the possibility of putting visitors in danger. The trail has been the site of five bear attacks in the past eight years. All the attacks happened to individuals who were either alone or in pairs and had surprised a sow and her cubs.
LeBlanc said the pre-emptive closure is part of a two-year trial period and is intended to protect bears and allow them to eat in peace as much as it is to protect humans.
“We’ve initiated these strategies for public safety, but also for bears to allow them to use these areas,” he said.
Additional areas are also slated for closure, including the Allenby Pass on Aug. 8, and others if Parks officials feel there is a danger of human-bear conflict.
The closures will remain in place until October when bear activity in the area subsides and the bears slowly begin to retreat into their dens.
At the Canmore Nordic Centre, the lower Georgetown Trail is closed until further notice due to the presence of a black bear and cubs. Bear warning signs have been placed on all CNC trails as berries are ripe and plentiful. Dogs should be kept on a short leash.
In Kananaskis country, as of Monday (July 24), bear warnings in the Galatea Creek Trail, Lillian Lake Backcountry campground, Galatea Lakes and Guinn’s Pass have been lifted.
A bear closure for the Picklejar Lakes area has been lifted, including Picklejar Lakes Trail in the Lantern Creek drainage, Picklejar Creek route/trail and Picklejar Connector route/trail.
Backcountry users can consult both Bow Valley WildSmart (bvwildsmart.ca) or Trailex.org for wildlife updates.
Source: Dan Ovsey – Rocky Mountain Outlook