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| The Edmonton family in this red car was given a warning from officials at Jasper National Park when caught feeding this black bear on the May long weekend. (Parks Canada) |
Six incidents of bear feeding have been reported since the Victoria Day weekend, officials at Jasper told CBC News.
While "Don't Feed the Bears" signs have been up in the park for more than 50 years, warden supervisor Jim Mamalis said the park is noticing an increase in bear feedings.
The park reported two bear-feeding incidents last year in Jasper, and one each in 2008 and 2007.
Even one feeding can change a bear's behaviour, Mamalis said. It can make the bear more comfortable with getting food from humans and can lead to tragic consequences, such as bear attacks, he said.
"You would think that after 30 or 40 years of education that people would realize it's not the thing to do these days," Mamalis said. "They are wild animals and there are consequences of doing that."
Parks Canada officials caught an Edmonton family feeding a black bear bread crumbs over the May long weekend. A photo of the feeding was taken and the family was reported to park officials.
Mamalis said the family members were given a warning but not fined. They were remorseful for what they did, he said.
On May 30, people with an Ontario rental vehicle threw food out for another black bear. Parks Canada is tracking that vehicle's licence plate, Mamalis said.
A similar incident occurred June 4, when a truck driver threw a black bear his sandwich. Mamalis said the driver is being taken to court and will likely face a $2,000 fine.
More education needed: wildlife agency
Katherine Thompson, executive director for the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, blames cuts to interpretive services at the national parks for the recent feedings.
More education - in several languages - is needed, she said.
"We know that Jasper, Parks Canada and Jasper National Park are keen to get more people to come to the parks, particularly new immigrants to the country, a lot of people now living in the city as well," Thompson said.
"And a lot of these people [don't know] ... the way you should act when you're in a park, and particularly with wild animals."
Mamalis said that he agrees with Thompson that the message of not feeding Jasper wildlife may not be reaching the right audience despite the posted signs.
"From the Parks Canada's point of view, there definitely is a lot of material out there to try and educate people," Mamalis said. "I know in the last few years there has been a real push on the outreach, communication and education areas."
Parks Canada hiring 'wildlife guardians'
Jasper is hiring two "wildlife guardians" for the first time this summer to teach educate people what to do when they encounter animals.
The guardians will drive to where visitors are gathered to look at wildlife and hand out leaflets on how they should behave. Banff National Park has had a similar program for several years.
Fines for feeding wildlife under the National Parks Act is a maximum $2,000 for summary offence and $5,000 by indictment.
Mamalis said if the bear-feeding incidents don't die down, Parks Canada may have to consider other measures.
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