Parks Canada warns of bears in Jasper town

Parks Canada is concerned about the number of black bears residing in and around the town of Jasper.

The bears feed on non-native fruit trees and unnatural food sources.

Officials said the bears also dig through damaged or destroyed property in search of food and “are primarily focused on investigating trash.”

Residents and contractors are being asked to help prevent the bears from finding food sources in the city.

Parks Canada has stated that all trash must be placed in bear-resistant bins.

When the containers are full, people should email [email protected] and drop off their waste at the Jasper Transfer Station.

The transfer station is open daily from 8am to 4.30pm.

The industrial waste bins in the community are not safe for bears and should only be used for demolition materials.

“It can take minutes for a bear to be rewarded with unattended food,” Parks Canada said in a press release.

“You might think that bears would benefit from any food they can find after a wildfire, but human food sources are more likely to be harmful than helpful.”

According to Parks Canada, it is better for the safety of the bears and humans if they forage for natural food themselves.

Bears that learn to forage for human food or garbage spend more time in areas where they could be injured, eat poisonous things, or become aggressive.

“When animals learn to associate food and garbage with people, Parks Canada may have to kill the animals for the safety of residents, contractors and visitors.”

If you see a bear in Jasper, you should report it immediately by contacting Jasper Dispatch at 780-852-6155.