'It's not a bad bear': Why Bear 148 is still roaming free after multiple encounters with hikers

Parks Canada says it will be keeping an eye on a grizzly bear after an encounter with a group of hikers and their dog in Banff's Mount Norquay area west of Calgary last weekend.

Officials say the young female grizzly, known as Bear 148, followed the group to a parking lot where they met parkstaff.

Parks Canada says the bear ranges along the Bow Valley and has had several encounters with people over the years, including three incidents this spring.

• Grizzly bear chases woman, dogs down trail near Banff

Bill Hunt with Parks Canada says she may have reacted to seeing the dog.

"Never, ever any kind ofcontact incident with a person," he said.

"Like I say, she's vocal and she lets you know she's there and she wants her space, which can be very intimidating from a large grizzly bear but then that's it. If she has an opportunity to leave the zone or get away, that's what she does."

Parks says it's still investigating and may step up tracking efforts on thebear.They are also reminding park visitors to stay bear alert in thebackcountry.

Hikers chased for 20 minutes

It's something thatKenzie Campbellwill keep in mind next time he ventures out. He was with two friendsanda dog named Momoon Sunday for a hike up to the Cascade amphitheatre near the Mount Norquayski hill.

"And the first turn we made on the trail head we sawthis grizzly bear right there, maybe 20-30 feet away," said Campbell.

"So we weren't too deep into the woods just yet, so we backed out of the woods reallyslowly. And then the bear chased us out of the woods."

The group stopped, but the bear got closer and closer. They decided to let their brave dog Momo off its leash, and shetook off.The bear followed closely behind.

"As soon as we saw the bear's back we started running," he said, adding at this point the adrenaline was pumping as the group tried to think about how to survive the situation.

"We were up to our shins in snow, cause it was right at the bottom of the ski hill."

Hikers chased for 20 minutes by Bear 148

7 years ago

Duration 0:09

Parks Canada says it will be keeping an eye on a grizzly bear that had an encounter with a group of hikers and their dog in Banff's Mount Norquay area last weekend.

The dog came back with the grizzly in tow,butthe bear seemed to lose interest. They made their way downto the parking lot with the bear still following them, but at a distance.

Not the first time

Parks Canada met them in the lot, but the bear charged again. The group jumped into a Parkstruck, since they had no vehicle, and watched the bear roam nearby.

The group was so grateful for Momo, who belongs to Campbell's friend fromWales,that they gave herher favourite treat broccoli and eggsthat night.

A Canmore, Alta., woman also had anencounter with Bear 148 in April.

She was kick-sledding a form of dog sledding on the Spray River Trail that runs behind Banff Springs Hotelwhen she heard the sound of a large animal behind her.

"She stopped the sled and made her presence known to the bear by yelling and waving her arms to make sure the bear understood that there was a person associated with the sled and the dogs," Hunt said.

Campbell said he heard of the incident, and realizes now he should have taken better precautions, like carrying bear spray.

• How to avoid being attacked by a bear

"It's not a bad bear, just doing what bears do," said Campbell, saying if the bear wanted them dead it would have happened.

Dogs and bears

A Calgary bear expert says some dogs can causenot stopbear attacks on their owners.

Steven Herrero, a world-recognized bear expert, looked at 92 bear attacks in North America over a five-year period. He toldCBC News in 2014 that when dogs are off-leash they can attract bears.

Part of the explanation might be that bears and dogs and their wolf ancestors are age-old enemies, he said.

Parks Canada advises those who are out enjoying the backcountry to leave their dogs at home or keep them on a leash becausedogs can provoke defensive behaviour in bears. Officials also advise people to make noise and towatch for fresh bear signs.

Letting Momooff her leash was a split decision, but it could have saved the group.

"The bear was about 15 feet from my girlfriend, and the dog was barking and growling, so we didn't want to provoke the bear anymore," said Campbell.

"My friend is really happy with Momo. She's pretty proud."

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