No stopping zone installed in Yoho National Park
In order to promote human and wildlife safety, Parks Canada has blocked off six kilometres of Highway 1 in Yoho National Park.
Officials say as of Friday, a section of the Trans-Canada Highway is designated as a no stopping zone due to the high possibility human-bear contact.
The zone is in effect for the length of highway between Sherbrooke Creek and Yoho Valley Road, however the Spiral Tunnels day use area, as well as its parking lot, is still accessible.
Parks Canada says actions like these are taken to promote safety for the public as well as animals in the mountain parks.
"Human and wildlife safety is of the utmost importance to Parks Canada. Parks Canada takes action to promote coexistence between people and wildlife, to ensure the safety of both," it said in a release.
The safety measures are expected to remain in place until officials know the bears have moved away from the highway areas.
BEAR WARNING IN FIELD, B.C.
Along the highway isn't the only place where bears might come into contact with people.
Parks Canada also says that residents and visitors in the village of Field, B.C., should take precautions because of an increase in bear activity.
Much of this activity has to do with bears trying to find food in the valley regions.
"Documented reports of unsafe parking and traffic jams, combined with multiple grizzly and black bears focussed on finding food, make this measure necessary. The no stopping zone allows bears to feed undisturbed and prevents traffic congestion that is dangerous for both bears and people."
Wildlife officers and park wardens are instructed to routinely patrol the no stopping zone to ensure compliance among drivers.
Both Parks Canada and the RCMP have the ability to penalize drivers who break the rules.
"Penalties for violations range from a $115 ticket to a mandatory court appearance and maximum fine of $25,000."
All wildlife sightings and incidents should be reported to Parks Canada 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.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
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.
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.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
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.
Police tangle with students in Texas and California as wave of campus protest against Gaza war grows
Police tangled with student demonstrators in Texas and California while new encampments sprouted Wednesday at Harvard and other colleges as school leaders sought ways to defuse a growing wave of pro-Palestinian protests.
Something in the water? Canadian family latest to spot elusive 'Loch Ness Monster'
For centuries, people have wondered what, if anything, might be lurking beneath the surface of Loch Ness in Scotland. When Canadian couple Parry Malm and Shannon Wiseman visited the Scottish highlands earlier this month with their two children, they didn’t expect to become part of the mystery.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.