Kootenay grizzly mom and cubs prompt no-stopping zone
Kootenay National Park officials try to protect mom and cubs foraging near highway
Kootenay National Park in British Columbia has brought in a no-stopping zone for drivers along Highway 93 to protect a grizzly bear and her two cubs.
- Baby bears chewing on litter near Highway 93 raises concerns
- Bow Valley Parkway to be closed overnight until June 25 to protect wildlife
- Drivers told to be cautious of grizzly cubs in Kootenay National Park
The 11-kilometre zone stretches from McKay Creek to Cobb Lake.
The grizzly and her cubs have been foraging in the area causing traffic chaos as people stop to look at the animals.
"We just want to see these animals kind of make it through the spring so that they can move into higher elevations. So we're just asking everyone to really help us out and to not stop through this area," said human-wildlife conflict specialist Brianna Burley.
She says drivers can slow down, but they just can't stop.
"We have that grizzly bear family, as well as a black bear family and a handful of other black bears in that area, so this just allows the resource conservation staff to pay more attention to actually kind of keeping the wildlife safe," said Burley.
Parks Canada wants to make sure bears don't get used to traffic or people and their garbage.