Aggressive bears force closures near Banff

CALGARY — Parks Canada has taken the unusual step of closing a popular recreation area around the Banff townsite after several serious incidents involving bears — including a young grizzly bluffcharging canoeists.

On Monday, wildlife specialists closed the Vermilion Lakes Road and all three Vermilion lakes on the north side of the Bow River, the Fenlands Trail and day-use area, the Legacy Trail from the west end of Vermilion Lakes road to the TransCanada Highway and Echo Creek north of the train tracks. Anyone entering a closed area can be fined up to $25,000.