Multiple crashes involving bears in a British Columbia national park earlier this month prompted a crackdown on drivers in the area, according to the Highway Patrol and Parks Canada.
In a news release Thursday, BCHP said the federal parks agency contacted it in early June “after a number of bear encounters on Highway 1 east of Field BC” in Yoho National Park.
A Parks Canada spokesperson told CTV News via email that three bears were struck and killed on the same stretch of highway over a six-day period from June 7 to 13.
The first collision occurred in the early morning hours of June 7 near the Lake O’Hara parking lot, according to Parks Canada. The bear – a young female grizzly – is believed to be about five years old and is a sibling of the well-known white grizzly in Yoho National Park.
After the initial crash, Parks Canada imposed a speed limit of 70 kilometers per hour between West Louise Lodge and the bottom of Field Hill. The agency also established a no-stop zone and increased enforcement in the area.
The second encounter occurred on June 11, killing an adult male grizzly bear that was trying to breed with the female bear killed earlier that week.
The second crash prompted officials to lower the speed limit to 50 km/h, according to Parks Canada.
On June 13, the third collision killed an adult male black bear.
As a result of the series of crashes, according to the BCHP release, officials from both agencies have begun an “enforcement and training campaign.”
“The stretch of highway is popular with both black bears and grizzly bears at this time of year due to the abundance of high-value food sources found along the road,” police said in their release.
“Unfortunately, this puts the bears at risk of contact with motor vehicles and often results in the bears being injured or killed.”
During the week of June 13, BCHP officers and Parks Canada rangers issued 80 speeding tickets and impounded four vehicles. They also imposed a ticket for one person to operate a drone in a national park.
“Parks Canada emphasizes the importance of following reduced speed limits and driving with caution in the early morning and evening hours,” the agency said. “Don’t stop if you see wildlife on the side of the road, especially on the Trans-Canada Highway. Please report all wildlife sightings on roadways or any wildlife incidents to Parks Canada dispatch at 403-762-1470.”
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