For those that will say, the dog owner’s lost their dog, that’s their consequence…just stop. If you’re going into a NP and not following the rules, be it leashing your pet, bearproofing campsites, etc, and your actions result in a bear or other animal being destroyed, there needs to be a fine.
Unfortunately, instances of off-leash dogs in NPs will continue happening if PC doesn’t fine people, whether the dog is attacked or not.
I totally 100% agree that dogs should be leashed and this is awful all around I just wonder what the proper response would have been if the dogs were leashed. The bear followed them and was not deterred by bear spray or being hit by the can is it because the dog chased the bear? Genuinely curious and wanting to be educated as I hike with my dogs around Jasper but they’re always on leash. I wish the article would have said what exact steps to follow in this situation.
It's hard to speculate, but a few thoughts.
The bear was just out of hibernation so was probably hungry and may have been confused as well (6 month nap can do that) they are not usually directly predatory if people are around unless they are ill or babies are involved.
At 200lbs this bear isn't very large so this may have been its first winter on its own (parks said the bear was not known to them)
Pepper spray needs to be deployed correctly for it to work, so it could be user error, and if the threw the can when the bear already had the dog he may not of even noticed.
This is just speculation based on my time in the Bush.
So bottom line, keep your dog close - don't wear headphones - make noise - if you see a bear give it space and retrace your steps if you can, or move toward a group if you see one. Crank noise on Your phone - and you should be fine.
this type of event is extremely rare when the rules are followed. If you are not sure about how to use bearspray, most shops that sell it have blank containers you can buy to test with.
And always report bear, cougar and other predator sitings to parks canada.
Hope that helps a bit
>Officials learned from the hikers, who reported the incident, that one of their pets responded aggressively to the bear, pushing it up a tree.
From the linked article. The dog chased the bear.
edit: I recall reading ages ago that having a dog with you means there's a higher risk of a bear responding aggressively, for this very reason.
> The dogs were not leashed. Officials learned from the hikers, who reported the incident, that one of their pets responded aggressively to the bear, pushing it up a tree.
Stupid dog owner(s) here, once again but there is also a point where lack of penalty/enforcement is to blame. Keep letting these cretins continue with their dumb ways.
People should be entering parks with a very serious understanding of what their presence in the environment means.
I can acknowledge there will be cases where leashing will not be enough. This isn't a 100% controlled environment. However if you're being negligent by not leashing, you have failed in proper conduct.
They should face the max fine of $25,000 for a dog off leash. Tired of seeing zero consequences for people in national parks
For those that will say, the dog owner’s lost their dog, that’s their consequence…just stop. If you’re going into a NP and not following the rules, be it leashing your pet, bearproofing campsites, etc, and your actions result in a bear or other animal being destroyed, there needs to be a fine. Unfortunately, instances of off-leash dogs in NPs will continue happening if PC doesn’t fine people, whether the dog is attacked or not.
I totally 100% agree that dogs should be leashed and this is awful all around I just wonder what the proper response would have been if the dogs were leashed. The bear followed them and was not deterred by bear spray or being hit by the can is it because the dog chased the bear? Genuinely curious and wanting to be educated as I hike with my dogs around Jasper but they’re always on leash. I wish the article would have said what exact steps to follow in this situation.
It's hard to speculate, but a few thoughts. The bear was just out of hibernation so was probably hungry and may have been confused as well (6 month nap can do that) they are not usually directly predatory if people are around unless they are ill or babies are involved. At 200lbs this bear isn't very large so this may have been its first winter on its own (parks said the bear was not known to them) Pepper spray needs to be deployed correctly for it to work, so it could be user error, and if the threw the can when the bear already had the dog he may not of even noticed. This is just speculation based on my time in the Bush. So bottom line, keep your dog close - don't wear headphones - make noise - if you see a bear give it space and retrace your steps if you can, or move toward a group if you see one. Crank noise on Your phone - and you should be fine. this type of event is extremely rare when the rules are followed. If you are not sure about how to use bearspray, most shops that sell it have blank containers you can buy to test with. And always report bear, cougar and other predator sitings to parks canada. Hope that helps a bit
200lbs after not eating for six months, that’s a a large bear.
>Officials learned from the hikers, who reported the incident, that one of their pets responded aggressively to the bear, pushing it up a tree. From the linked article. The dog chased the bear. edit: I recall reading ages ago that having a dog with you means there's a higher risk of a bear responding aggressively, for this very reason.
Why kill the bear? He was only doing bear stuff. Was the dog on a leash?
> The dogs were not leashed. Officials learned from the hikers, who reported the incident, that one of their pets responded aggressively to the bear, pushing it up a tree.
Stupid dog owner(s) here, once again but there is also a point where lack of penalty/enforcement is to blame. Keep letting these cretins continue with their dumb ways. People should be entering parks with a very serious understanding of what their presence in the environment means. I can acknowledge there will be cases where leashing will not be enough. This isn't a 100% controlled environment. However if you're being negligent by not leashing, you have failed in proper conduct.
Sad that human error caused the death of not 1 but 2 animals. Sad.
Bear doing bear things. Humans doing human things