'Be alert': First bear sighting of 2023 in Banff National Park
Parks Canada says the first bear sighting of the year was recorded last week, a good reminder for visitors to stay safe when exploring Banff National Park.
No details about the bear itself were released, but officials say it was seen on March 23.
As a result of the confirmation of bear activity, staff say visitors and residents should "be alert and show wildlife respect" no matter where they are in the area.
"Wildlife encounters can happen at any time in Banff National Park," Parks Canada said in a release.
Park users are also reminded of the following when they are out exploring the region:
- Make noise to let animals, including bears, know where you are, so you aren't going to surprise them;
- Equip yourself with bear spray, which is useful on animals other than bears, and know how to use it;
- Be mindful of your surroundings for bear activity, including tracks, droppings, torn-up logs and turned-over rocks;
- Travel in groups of four people or more, don't let your children wander and keep your dogs on a leash;
- Remain on official trails and never go out at night; and
- If you encounter a large dead animal, leave the area immediately and report it to park staff.
Anyone who sees a bear or cougar within Banff National Park is asked to report the sighting to Banff dispatch by calling 403-762-1470.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.