Humans and bears - Wild encounters

[brotherbear]

http://www.calgarysun.com/2016/11/02/mou...U.facebook 
 
CANMORE — Two mountain bikers have been fined $700 each for riding on the Lake Minnewanka trail during a seasonal trail restriction in place to protect grizzly bears.
The men — Daryl James Morgan and Mitchell Cole Neufeld — both pleaded guilty to the charge Wednesday in a Canmore courtroom through defence lawyer Tyson Dahlem.
Court heard the two men were charged on July 17 after they triggered a remote camera set up on the trail.
“It’s clearly marked and heavily barricaded,” said federal Crown prosecutor Anita Szabo, adding that the two bikers admitted that they rode to Aylmer Pass and back.
They were each fined $700 each under the National Parks Act.
Seasonal trail restrictions are in effect annually from July 10 to September 15 on the Lake Minnewanka Trail from the Stewart Canyon bridge to the east park boundary, Aylmer Pass Trail and Aylmer Lookout Trail.
It’s considered one of the three core areas for grizzlies in Banff National Park because a number of female bears live and raise their cubs there.
They depend on the buffaloberries, which are abundant in the area and in season at that time of year.
The restriction, which is in place both to protect the grizzly bears and ensure public safety, requires hikers to be in groups of four or more and carry bear spray at all times.
No cyclists are allowed on the Lake Minnewanka Trail and dogs are not permitted beyond the Stewart Canyon bridge.
Anyone who does not comply can be charged under the National Parks Regulations and face a fine up to $25,000 — although the penalties are ultimately set by the courts in Alberta. 
 
A report tabled in the House of Commons this fall shows that Banff National Park had the highest number of violations in the past decade than any other national park across Canada.

[email protected] Reply