logo
  • News
    • Community
    • Local Government
    • Sports
    • Alberta Politics
    • Opinion
    • Deke
  • Events
  • Jasper Builds
  • Peaks & Valleys
    • Wildlife
    • Hiking and Climbing
    • Biking
    • Fishing
    • Snow Sports
  • Culture
    • Jasper Arts & Culture
    • Local Dining
    • Local Literature
  • Jasper History
  • Support
    • News
      • Community
      • Local Government
      • Sports
      • Alberta Politics
      • Opinion
      • Deke
    • Events
    • Jasper Builds
    • Peaks & Valleys
      • Wildlife
      • Hiking and Climbing
      • Biking
      • Fishing
      • Snow Sports
    • Culture
      • Jasper Arts & Culture
      • Local Dining
      • Local Literature
    • Jasper History
    • Support
Relocated bears adjusting to life in the subalpine
Wildlife officials trapped, collared and relocated a mother grizzly with cubs after the bears demonstrated concerning behaviour close to humans. // Parks Canada - James McCormick
News, Wildlife
By Bob Covey
Friday, August 4, 2023
Relocated bears adjusting to life in the subalpine

The grizzly bear family that startled picnickers at a popular day-use area 11 days ago have been relocated away from the Jasper townsite.

On July 24, a sow grizzly and her two cubs got way too close for comfort to a family of visitors who had just laid out their lunch at Lake Annette. The bears accessed food at a picnic table and another picnic blanket, and their bold behaviour was troubling enough to Jasper wildlife officials that they closed the area to members of the public while they attempted to track down the three bears.

A family of grizzly bears were lured to a picnic table on July 24. The bears have since been relocated south of the townsite. Recently they’ve been spotted near the Columbia Icefields Area. // Mike Gere

Three days later, when officials were finally able to trap the family and collar the sow, JNP’s James McCormick said the human-wildlife coexistence specialist team had a challenging decision to make.

“We could leave them in place, we could move them to the backcountry, or we could move them away from the townsite to a place where we could manage them,” McCormick said. 

They elected for the latter solution and on July 28, after the mom had recovered from the immobilization drugs she received in Parks Canada’s bear-family-specific wildlife trap, staff moved the group about 70 kilometres south of Jasper. The location was far away from the touristy bustle of the townsite, but near enough to park assets that officials could keep an eye on them—and on the gawkers who would invariably stop their vehicles for a closer look.

“Staff have been managing the bears and keeping people back,” McCormick reported. “These bears are still very comfortable around roadways and people.”

Fitted with a satellite GPS collar which uploads daily data sets and also pings out signals which can be picked up by telemetry equipment, the sow has been tracked as she and her cubs move further south. They spent some time at the Columbia Icefields Area and, eventually, ambled towards the Parker Ridge summer hiking trail—not exactly people-free zones. But McCormick was encouraged that the mother grizzly was spotted successfully fishing near Beauty Creek and that she seems to be foraging on blooming berry crops.

The “picnic bears” which demonstrated habituated behaviour near the Jasper townsite have been relocated. They have been spotted foraging in the alpine, a welcome sign for wildlife officials. // Parks Canada – Natalie Verrier

“We’re hoping she goes uphill, to the subalpine or alpine,” McCormick said. 

They’re also hoping curious visitors will keep their distance and never attempt to feed them. In general, if bears are in the area, all food should be packed up and put away in a hard-sided vehicle, structure or bear-safe, designated food storage locker. Thirty metres should be the minimum distance between humans and bears.

“Give them their space,” McCormick said. “Even in vehicles.”


Bob Covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com

Jasper National Park wildlife specialists fit an immobilized grizzly bear with a collar and simultaneously manage the sow’s cubs. “They were a little amped up, but eventually went for a nap under a tree,” said human wildlife coexistence specialist, James McCormick. // Parks Canada – Raquel Martinez Rubio

By trapping and relocating them, Jasper National Park officials are trying to give wildlife the best chance to stay alive. But what’s involved in the relocation process? The Jasper Local is here to sniff out the potent details.

  1. Locate the bears. In this case, a wide area was cordoned off from the public and wildlife officials spent three days combing their regular haunts: Lake Annette/Lake Edith day-use areas, Old Fort Point and the grounds of the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge.
  2. Get the trap. To capture the mother grizzly and her two cubs, Jasper National Park borrowed a specialized bear family trap from their counterparts in Banff. Like your modern minivan, the heavy sliding door of the trap has a “cub stopper” mechanism which stops the door from closing on a too-tiny bruin. It also has a separate compartment for the wee ones, so that when mom wakes up from her drug-induced daze, she doesn’t accidentally hurt her cubs.
  3. Bait that thing. Sometimes officials thaw one of the frozen beaver carcasses they store for such purposes, other times they’ve got fresh roadkill on the menu. In this instance, a recently-killed elk was the choice cut for the picnic bears. Officials chucked some medallions in the trap then made a “light drag,” creating a trail of irresistible ungulate scent—an amuse bouche, if you will—towards the main course. Dinner was served and for dessert: a ketomine chaser à la immobilization dart. The following day, 70 kilometres away, it was berries and fresh fish for breakfast—although the bears are expected to rustle up that grub themselves.
    -Bob Covey
Articles You May LIke ›
Glutton for punishment: will poor Alberta policy doom our wolverines?
Alberta Politics
Glutton for punishment: will poor Alberta policy doom our wolverines?
Mark Bradley 
Friday, December 6, 2024
The wolverine is a reclusive, mysterious animal that is rarely seen by humans. I t’s scientific name is Gulo gulo, which translates to ‘glutton’ or ‘I...
this is a test
Emerging from the ashes: what nature can teach us about rebuilding
Community
Emerging from the ashes: what nature can teach us about rebuilding
Mark Bradley 
Monday, September 16, 2024
Upheaval and change One of the most successful TV shows of the past several years has been Succession, a darkly funny drama about an exceptionally dys...
this is a test
The cycle continues: Wildfire and wildlife
Environment
The cycle continues: Wildfire and wildlife
Mark Bradley 
Wednesday, August 7, 2024
While some animals will die in a fire, most do not. To varying degrees, species have adapted to fires. Biologist and Jasper Local contributor Mark Bra...
this is a test
The winning ingredients: Competition in nature
Environment
The winning ingredients: Competition in nature
Mark Bradley 
Thursday, June 27, 2024
This is the time of year when competition is on everyone’s mind. The NHL and NBA playoffs have just ended, the 2024 Euros are underway and the Paris O...
this is a test
Most Read ›
The dukes of hazard trees
Environment
The dukes of hazard trees
Bob Covey 
Monday, July 7, 2025
When normal forestry practices don’t cut it: With a light-on-the-land touch, specialized arborists are cleaning up Jasper’s burn debris It’s a widely-...
this is a test
Walking Through Fire: Wildlife
Environment
Walking Through Fire: Wildlife
Kirsten Schmitten 
Friday, July 4, 2025
Part 2: Home is where the hearth is In Part 1 of our Walking Through Fire series , we discussed how post-fire vegetation bounces back. But what about ...
this is a test
Pitch perfect: Jasper U15 Football Club provincial champs
News
Pitch perfect: Jasper U15 Football Club provincial champs
Lucas Habib 
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
Jasper soccer players have once again brought home a provincial soccer championship. Jaifred Mota was the first one to rush keeper Kieran Rudge after ...
this is a test
Latest ›
Golf’s golden years at Jasper Park
Jasper History
Golf’s golden years at Jasper Park
John Wilmshurst, freelance contributor 
Monday, June 23, 2025
100 years ago, the Jasper Park Golf Club teed up its first round of the Royal and Ancient Game In 1457, King James II of England banned golf in Scotla...
this is a test
Two hikers killed by rockfall event at Bow Glacier Falls
Environment
Two hikers killed by rockfall event at Bow Glacier Falls
Friday, June 20, 2025
The Rockies hiking community is mourning the loss of two of its members today. Calgary's Jutta Hinrichs, 70 years old, a member of the hiking group Sl...
this is a test
The bear necessities
Environment
The bear necessities
Bob Covey 
Thursday, June 19, 2025
Collars, fences and attractant elimination keys to bear management Jasper National Park bear biologists are keeping a close eye on area grizzlies. At ...
this is a test
CONGRATULATIONS Class of 2025
Community
CONGRATULATIONS Class of 2025
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Congratulations to the 2025 graduates of Jasper Jr/Sr High School and École Desrochers! These bright young individuals are now stepping confidently in...
this is a test

NEXT ARTICLE

Cooking with gas: Jasper Food Tours laps up travel experience award

Business, Community, Local Dining, News

Most Read ›
The dukes of hazard trees
Environment
The dukes of hazard trees
Bob Covey 
Monday, July 7, 2025
When normal forestry practices don’t cut it: With a light-on-the-land touch, specialized arborists are cleaning up Jasper’s burn debris It’s a widely-...
this is a test
Walking Through Fire: Wildlife
Environment
Walking Through Fire: Wildlife
Kirsten Schmitten 
Friday, July 4, 2025
Part 2: Home is where the hearth is In Part 1 of our Walking Through Fire series , we discussed how post-fire vegetation bounces back. But what about ...
this is a test
Pitch perfect: Jasper U15 Football Club provincial champs
News
Pitch perfect: Jasper U15 Football Club provincial champs
Lucas Habib 
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
Jasper soccer players have once again brought home a provincial soccer championship. Jaifred Mota was the first one to rush keeper Kieran Rudge after ...
this is a test
Latest ›
Pitch perfect: Jasper U15 Football Club provincial champs
News
Pitch perfect: Jasper U15 Football Club provincial champs
Lucas Habib 
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
Jasper soccer players have once again brought home a provincial soccer championship. Jaifred Mota was the first one to rush keeper Kieran Rudge after ...
this is a test
The dukes of hazard trees
Environment
The dukes of hazard trees
Bob Covey 
Monday, July 7, 2025
When normal forestry practices don’t cut it: With a light-on-the-land touch, specialized arborists are cleaning up Jasper’s burn debris It’s a widely-...
this is a test
Walking Through Fire: Wildlife
Environment
Walking Through Fire: Wildlife
Kirsten Schmitten 
Friday, July 4, 2025
Part 2: Home is where the hearth is In Part 1 of our Walking Through Fire series , we discussed how post-fire vegetation bounces back. But what about ...
this is a test
Float on: Canada Day Parade gallery
Arts & Culture
Float on: Canada Day Parade gallery
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
Jasperites donned their red and white, kitted out their floats and paraded around the community with pride on Canada Day (Tuesday, July 1). Local busi...
this is a test
This site complies with Jasper requirements
Contact us
Privacy Policy
Advertise With Us
About The Jasper Local
Accessibility Policy
Support

Follow Us

Advertise with us

Measurable, targeted, local. Email example@thejasperlocal.com

ePaper
coogle_play
app_store

© Copyright The Jasper Local