Rare white grizzly is drawing unhelpful attention: biologist
People getting out of vehicles to observe the bear are putting its life in danger
BANFF, ALTA. A wildlife photographer says he’s worried about a rare white grizzly living in mountain parks in Alberta and B.C. after watching people get too close to it and seeing it run across a highway.
The bear, which has been nicknamed Nakoda by locals, was first revealed publicly after it was spotted in Alberta’s Banff National Park in late April.
Parks Canada says it’s not an albino, but a natural colour phase variation that makes the threeand-a-half-year-old bear white.
Photographer Jason Bantle, who’s also a biologist, says he has seen the bear on railway tracks and along the Trans-Canada Highway in Yoho National Park, which is adjacent to Banff National Park on the B.C. side of the provincial boundary.
Bantle says he has seen the bear nearly get hit by a transport truck as it darted across the highway. He has also watched people get out of their cars and come within 50 metres of the bear to get photos. “That’s unacceptable,” he said. Bantle said he stayed at least 200 metres from the bear and turned on the hazard lights on his vehicle to make sure people knew to slow down.
“As a nature photographer, it’s a fine line between getting images and making sure the individuals are conserved,” he said. “It requires Parks Canada to have bear monitoring and education.”
Parks Canada said in a statement that the bear, along with its brown-coloured sibling, spend time in both Banff and Yoho national parks.
It said observing wildlife in their natural habitat is a privilege that comes with responsibility.
“If you see wildlife near the highway, do not stop,” Parks Canada said. “When visitors see wildlife in other areas they should consider not stopping or, if safe to stop, always stay in their vehicles and give the animal space. Bears and other wildlife that become comfortable around people and roadsides are at greater risk of being struck by a vehicle.” It also reminded people that feeding wildlife isn’t allowed in a national park.
Bantle would like to see Parks Canada have its wildlife guardians keeping an eye on the bears when they’re close to the highway, but suggested locals and visitors also have a part to play.
“This bear is being recognized internationally,” he said. “What is our responsibility as Canadians? We have to step up.”