Dispute over policing national parks puts tourists, animals at risk: wardens

June 18, 2001
Source: Canoe
Original story - link not found on August 30, 2001

A black bear and her three tiny cubs sat in a tree in Jasper National Park munching the buds off branches while delighted tourists stood only metres away recording the scene with their cameras.  Suddenly alarmed, the mother bear climbed down growling and hissing, sending the crowd, including young children, dashing to nearby cars and RVs for safety.  Despite the danger of the recent holiday weekend "bear jam," no Parks Canada staff or RCMP responded to it, even though the animals had been mingling with tourists in the area for days.

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