On Tuesday, officials from Parks Canada reported that a white grizzly, which was a rare sight, was killed on the Trans-Canada Highway after being hit by a vehicle. Tragically, just 12 hours before, the grizzly’s two bear cubs also lost their lives after being struck by a car on the same highway.
According to park officials, two cubs were reported to have been hit and killed on Thursday morning. Later that same day, Grizzly Bear 178, the cubs’ mother, was seen grazing in a ditch in Yoho National Park by officials who were repairing wildlife fencing nearby.
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During a news conference, Saundi Stevens, a wildlife management specialist, reported that workers witnessed a train passing by the ditch causing the bear to startle. The bear then ran out of the ditch and onto the road, where it appeared in front of two vehicles on the highway amidst the screeching of the metal wheels.
According to Stevens, one of the vehicles managed to avoid hitting the bear, but unfortunately, the other vehicle collided with it. The officials quickly intervened and halted the traffic to assess the situation. The injured bear then retreated back into the woods with a noticeable limp.
According to Stevens, the only visible injury was a limp, and there were no other apparent injuries. Despite the collision, there was optimism that the individual involved could make a full recovery.
According to Stevens, GB 178 was known to frequently venture outside of the fencing and roam along the roadside in search of food. Despite extensive efforts by wildlife specialists since 2022 to prevent the bear from accessing the roadside, GB 178 proved to be highly adept at identifying weaknesses in the fencing and breaching them.
According to Steven, relocating the bear and her cubs was not deemed feasible. This was because they were not stationary on the roadside for extended periods, and the act of moving them posed a greater risk.
Wildlife experts were notified about the death of the bear with GPS tracker GB 178, a day after being hit by a vehicle. The park authorities confirmed the bear’s demise on Saturday. The team was deeply saddened to lose the bear and her two cubs in such a short span of time, according to Stevens.
Stevens urged drivers to adhere to speed limits and approach driving with caution, emphasizing his team’s strong commitment to preventing unfavorable outcomes. “We were deeply invested in preventing this outcome,” he stated.
According to Stevens, there have been rumors circulating on social media that GB 178 returned to the highway on Thursday evening to mourn for her cubs before meeting her own demise. However, Stevens clarified that bears typically consume their deceased young, and GB 178 did not display any signs of distress after her two cubs were killed.
According to Stevens, the elephant showed no signs of distress and was seen searching for dandelions along the roadside, which was a behavior that was typical for her.
According to Parks Canada, Banff National Park in Alberta and Yoho and Kootenay national parks in British Columbia are home to around 90 grizzly bears. Though the numbers of these majestic creatures vary annually, the population is currently deemed stable. Unfortunately, 13 grizzly bears have been killed in the parks since 2019, and this year alone, four bears have already lost their lives, making it the highest number of grizzly bear deaths to date.
