Did you know Elk Island National Park has black bears? - BERITAJA

As warmer upwind brings much postulation to Elk Island National Park, visitors this outpouring expecting to spot bison mightiness find themselves seeing thing other — achromatic bears.

Staff opportunity galore visitors person nary thought black bears are successful the park.

“They didn’t moreover cognize that location were bears present and truthful they didn’t cognize to transportation carnivore spray. They didn’t cognize to make noise,” explained lead ecologist Ramona Maraj.

She said caller investigation indicates there’s now about 40 achromatic bears successful the park, a organization that really started increasing about 2016.

“It’s portion of a North America wide scope description that’s happening of achromatic bear,” Maraj said.

While location haven’t been immoderate antagonistic interactions reported pinch visitors, Parks Canada has taken steps to mitigate the risk, doing things for illustration installing bear-proof garbage containers and lockers for campers’ groceries.

“That is simply a bear-resistant spot for them to beryllium capable to shop food. They could besides shop it successful a hard-sided vehicle. We discourage group from reasoning things for illustration their shelter mightiness beryllium a spot wherever they could shop food,” Maraj explained.

She said quiet bears person nary problem destroying a shelter to get a meal.

“People who are present for picnics, 1 of the large issues that we often brushwood is that they will time off their nutrient unattended.”

When it comes to hiking aliases biking successful the park, Maraj said successful summation to carrying carnivore spray, travelling successful groups and making noise, visitors should debar utilizing the trails astatine dawn aliases dusk.

She besides recommends group not deterioration headphones aliases earbuds, truthful they could perceive approaching wildlife.

“We request to deliberation about really we could coexist pinch them. How do we trim the alteration of conflicts?”

Visitors whitethorn besides spot bears on the roadside, and drivers are encouraged to slow down, but not stop.

“We’ve been trying to amended people. And we’ve been doing an aversive conditioning programme wherever we thatch the bears that if cars are stopping for them, they should tally into the bush and hide.”

They opportunity it’s important Elk Island’s bears don’t get comfortable about people.

“It tends to cascade into them having to beryllium destroyed which is an result cipher really wants,” Maraj said.

“If you are alert of what’s here, past you could hole yourself erstwhile you’re coming to Elk Island.”