Despite warnings from Parks Canada to give bears and their cubs space along Highway 93 South in Kootenay National Park, it seems some shutterbugs are not getting the message.
Two separate incidents have resulted in charges being laid by wardens along the highway on the same day, but before a mandatory 11-kilometre no-stopping zone was implemented just outside Radium, B.C. between McKay Creek and Cobb Lake earlier this month.
Jim Mamalis, Parks warden supervisor for Lake Louise, Yoho and Kootenay national parks, said the behaviour of the two photographers was typical of what staff were seeing and is the reason the no-stopping order was issued.
“These were incidents that were very typical of the types of things we were encountering,” he said. “It was actually before the no stopping zone was implemented, but at the height of when the craziness with the bears was going on and traffic was becoming a real nightmare down there.
“It was definitely dangerous for the bears, but even more so for the people that were stopping and running across the road.”
The first incident saw wardens respond to a request from resource conservation staff, who were having difficulty with a woman taking photos and not listening to requests to move along.
“She was literally within three metres of a black bear, which is kind of crazy, and the bear was obviously getting visibly stressed,” Mamalis said, adding the stressed bear was still trying to feed. “They are really feeding voraciously now on the dandelions to put some weight back on after the winter.”
The woman moved on after being charged under the National Parks Act with disturbing wildlife, which has a maximum penalty of $25,000. Because the charge was laid in B.C., however, no mandatory court appearance is required.
The second incident involved a male photographer who was rude and stubborn with resource conservation staff.
“He obviously was trying to get some photos of the bears and was really giving a hard time to resource staff, who were trying to watch the bears and at the same time asking people to move,” Mamalis said, adding he is not sure if it was a professional or amateur photographer.
The photographer finally moved on, however, Mamalis said he drove slowly down the road, pulled a U-turn on the double lane highway and slowly drove back down the road while trying to take more pictures from his vehicle.
Wardens charged him with crossing a double solid line under the Traffic Safety Act.
With the mandatory no-stopping order, Mamalis said Parks is getting fairly good compliance, but not perfect, and will continue to respond and lay charges if necessary.
