Don't feed this wolf
July 3, 2009 by CVNews
Filed under Columbia Valley, Environment, Kootenay National Park, Local news, Nature, Radium Hot Springs, Safety, Travel
Parks Canada staff are asking people not to feed this wolf.
Press release –
Food-conditioned wolf along highway 93 south in Kootenay National Park.
Radium Hot Springs — A food-conditioned grey wolf has been begging for handouts from motorists on Highway 93 South in Kootenay National Park.
The wolf first began showing signs of habituation in the fall of 2008 and Parks Canada staff has been monitoring the wolf since this time. This is a sad and potentially dangerous situation for people and this wolf. Thus far, the animal has not shown any aggressive behaviour, but it is not afraid of either people or traffic and has the potential to become aggressive.
Food conditioned wildlife can pose a very real threat to people and are at a greater risk of being killed by vehicles. In 2008, there were 2 confirmed wolf mortalities and 2 reported vehicle/wolf strikes on Highway 93 South in Kootenay National Park.
Parks Canada Resource Conservation Specialists are hazing the animal (using deterrents to discourage it from roadside begging) when opportunities arise in an effort to help the wolf regain its natural wariness of people and traffic. If you see this wolf, slow down, stay inside your vehicle and do not stop. We need your help to keep wildlife safe in our national parks.
Parks Canada would like to remind the public that feeding wildlife is illegal and punishable under the Canadian National Parks Act.
Please report all wildlife sightings and the feeding of wildlife to Banff Dispatch at 403.762.1470, the Kootenay Park Visitor Information Centre at 250.347.9505, or any Parks Canada Visitor Information Centre.
Parks Canada has greatly reduced human caused wildlife mortality in the mountain parks in the past twenty years through a leading-edge program of reduced speed zones, roadside education, waste management, highway fencing, and wildlife crossing structures in Banff National Park. A variety of educational programs are also in place to help reduce human-wildlife conflicts in park town-sites, campgrounds and other areas.
Parks Canada depends on the public to help reduce human-caused threats to wildlife and would like to encourage people to learn more about wildlife at http://www.pc.gc.ca/kootenay under natural wonders and clutural treasures or by visiting a parks information centre. Parks Canada would like to thank the thousands of visitors and residents who already help reduce the risks of human-wildlife conflicts by respecting wildlife regulations when in the national parks.
Press release
July 1, 2009
Parks Canada
Apparently this wolf has been feed once too many by people and it is becoming tourist attraction on the Provincial Park Highway…
I feel that the wildlife branch should have this animal transferred to a rehabilitaion center in the best interests of this animal. It may never be a wild animal again as this is not the animals fault but our own as Humans, as it is in our compassion for those of us who dont like to see animals suffer, wild or tame.
Being said this should be a matter of preserving this animals life and not to destroy it as it should be the Humans be destroyed more than this animals… After all these parks are for the animals to thrive in their own world, not for us to invade…
Signs should be put in place with large lettering as well as Provincial and Federal Penalties that can be in place. Also why not use the of Cameras in the areas where problem Humans have been feeding the wildlife to be more effective in punishable crimes? Make it aware that there are cameras in the area monitoring Human activity and feeding wildlife in the park.
AS i had moved to saskatchewan in 1999, i was on my way back from visiting my family in Radium to Sask.atoon, this wolf stopped me in my car on the highway, and basically forced me to stop on the side of the roadand came around and sat beside my windwo drivers side door. Back then, noone beleived me, but this is the same wolf… this didnt develop in 2008…trust me!
I travelled the park on Nov 8th 2009 and encountered a wolf. Traffic was stopped in the driving lanes in both directions as the wolf meandered around the cars. I had my camera on the seat and got a few photos. I commented at the time that her tolerance of traffic would be dangerous for her.