Parks Canada has closed parts of Yoho National Park after a trail runner was involved in a surprise encounter with a grizzly bear.
The runner was on the Tally Ho trail near the Natural Bridge Day Use Area encountered a grizzly bear that charged the individual and made contact with them. The runner drove themself to the Golden hospital, where they were treated for minor injuries and released.
Saundi Stevens, wildlife psychologist with Parks Canada’s Yoho National Park unit, said an investigation is underway. Surveillance camera footage confirmed the presence of a grizzly bear in the area.
“Crews were able to determine through the kind of snow tracks … we assessed on the camera that the bear looked quite thin and for this time of year we would deem it was an unusual body condition,” Stevens said.
She added that a bear typically charges as a bluff when coming across people.
“They (bears) are just trying to communicate as they want a bit more space, and they disengage and leave,” she said.
Parks Canada advises that Yoho National Park is bear country, and visitors must always be prepared and bear aware even during cooler months.
“Bears can be encountered at any time and in any place, from busy trails near town to remote backcountry sites. While bears generally avoid people, encounters can happen,” they stated.
Stevens recommends carrying bear spray at any time and making noise, especially when passing through dense vegetation or streams.
The investigation is still ongoing, with specialists recommending the next steps to take.
“Wildlife specialists recommend that we try and capture the bear and which would actually allow us to better assess the health a little bit more thoroughly and guide our management decisions around public safety,” Stevens said.
The Tally-Ho Trail and the Natural Bridge Day Use Area remain closed until further notice.
