Parks Canada charges camper after black bear gets into food at Banff National Park

Parks Canada charges camper after black bear gets into food at Banff National Park

Bears 'rarely survive in the long run' when accessing human food and associating it with people: Parks Canada

Parks Canada continues to emphasize the importance of keeping food away from wildlife after a black bear got into a campsite at Rampart Creek Campground.

The federal agency said a person left food next to their tent at the campsite along the Icefields Parkway in a bag that was marketed as being bear resistant.

After getting into the food, the black bear “contacted the tent” when no one was in it.

“When camping in Banff National Park, all scented items, including food and hygiene products, must be stored in a vehicle or in the bear-proof storage locks provided to prevent wildlife from accessing food,” stated the Lake Louise, Yoho and Kootenay field unit in an online post.

Parks wardens investigated and charged the person with not properly maintaining the area and camping on public land in violation of a permit. They could face a fine up to $25,000.

The person will appear in Canmore court later this month.

Helping wildlife avoid human food

Bears “rarely survive in the long run” when they get used to human food and associate it with people, said Parks Canada.

It can lead to human-wildlife conflicts, with a bear being relocated, attempts at 're-conditioning' the bear and, as a final resort, killing the animal, said the federal agency.

Kim Titchener, founder of Bear Safety and More, said wildlife is more likely to return to a site if the animals believe they can get food.

“It becomes a high-calorie, high-fat food source, and they think, ‘Why would I eat dandelions or grasses when there’s easy access to food?” Titchener said.

"They can start to get aggressive about gaining access to those food sources, like breaking into tents, trying to get into a cooler, trying to get into a building."

Can we relocate instead of killing nuisance black bears?

Parks Canada put a bear warning in place after the incident and stated “multiple black bears” have been seen in the campground area.

“Parks Canada’s human-wildlife conflict staff are monitoring the area for continued bear activity and will decide if further management actions are required,” stated the online post.

In June, black bears gained access to food at a backcountry campground near Lake Minnewanka and tore into multiple unoccupied tents. An area closure was put in place, but more incidents were reported at the end of July.

Titchener said people should survey their campsites for existing garbage and food attractants like berries, find where they can store their own food, and always carry bear spray.

While bear resistant products exist, Titchener said they’re meant to be hung in a tree at a height recommended by the national or provincial park. Still, she suggests using the bear proof bins at a campground instead.

“It’s bear resistant, but it doesn’t mean it’s bear proof. Over time, a bear can get into it,” she said.

“They’re smart. They’re like little engineers. They look for weaknesses in structures.”

Wildlife sightings can be reported to Banff National Park dispatch at 403-762-1470 or at a visitor centre.

Greg Colgan is a journalist for CBC in the Bow Valley. He was previously the editor of the Rocky Mountain Outlook in Banff and Canmore. He has also worked for media outlets in Ontario and has experience covering topics such as sports, politics, housing and development, courts and arts and entertainment. He joined CBC in 2025. He can be reached at greg.colgan@cbc.ca.