BY COLETTE DERWORIZ, POSTMEDIA
BANFF — In the Tunnel Mountain campground, where a wolf boldly approached a campsite this week, campers say they’ve noticed signs of the pack but aren’t worried.
Rafael Leclair, who arrived from Edmonton on Thursday, said he and a friend saw a wolf between 4 and 5 p.m. when they drove up to the campground.
“All of a sudden one just crossed the road in front of us,” he said, noting it was near the Tunnel Mountain trailer court campground.
“I’ve got a yellow lab and this thing probably has 40 pounds on him.”
Earlier this week, two of the five wolves in the Bow Valley pack entered the campground, forcing some campers into their truck and taking off with a loaf of bread.
It has led to concerns the wolf could continue to be aggressive, leading to a warning for the Bow Valley.
Since the warning was issued, officials said two more incidents involving the pack have been reported along the Bow Valley Parkway — including a wolf following a cyclist and another running alongside a car.
It means there has been at least 15 concerning incidents with the highly visible Bow Valley wolf pack since January when three of the wolves were observed eating garbage in the Johnston Canyon parking lot.
Charges were laid against two construction companies in the Johnston Canyon incident, resulting in guilty pleas and fines of $1,000 each.
“They were charged with leaving the site in an unsatisfactory condition,” said Bill Hunt, manager of resource conservation with Banff National Park.
Hunt said the wolves continue to be extremely visible both along the Bow Valley Parkway and throughout the Banff townsite.
There was also a noticeable presence of Parks Canada vehicles patrolling the area.
Two of the five wolves in the pack are collared, and wildlife officials are in the field trying to dart and fit the remaining three wolves with GPS collars.
“Collaring has been unsuccessful so far,” said Hunt.
“They are covering a lot of ground; the pack is moving a lot,” he said, noting the two collared wolves are travelling from the Hillsdale Meadows area along the Bow Valley Parkway to town within two hours.
It’s believed that the wolves are going back and forth to a den site, where they would be feeding pups born earlier this spring.
Hunt reminded visitors not to keep their distance and not feed the wolves.
Back at the campground, campers said the aggressive wolf incident is a good reminder to keep their sites clean and their eyes open.
“We do that regardless,” said Calgarian Shae Rothery. “We’re always cautious when we are camping.