COLETTE DERWORIZ, CALGARY HERALD
Wolves have led to an area closure near the Banff townsite after they were spotted feasting on an elk about 20 meters off the popular Fenland Loop trail.
On Sunday morning, Parks Canada officials responded to a report of four wolves on a carcass along Echo Creek, which turns into 40 Mile Creek.
“It was in very close proximity to the Fenland Loop trail,” said David Gummer, a wildlife ecologist with Banff National Park.
Wildlife staff went out and immediately closed the area around the trail to hikers and the creek to paddlers.
“The idea was to ensure the safety of visitors so they wouldn’t stumble into that scene,” he said, noting the wolves could leave and a bear could easily take over eating the carcass. “It’s just a good clear action to take to make sure nobody ventures too close to the site.”
Gummer said the carcass is located about 20 meters off the trail and right along the creek’s edge.
“We’re going to give them some space and some time,” he said, noting the trails and the creek will likely be closed for about three or four days.
He noted that the day use area remains open, because it’s far enough away from the carcass.
It’s believed the wolves are part of the same pack that chased and killed a deer in the middle of the Banff townsite in August, prompting a delayed warning to residents.
“We’ve certainly had an increasing number of wolf sightings in the past month or so,” said Gummer, noting there’s at least five wolves in the pack. Some are grey in colour, while others are black.
The same pack also killed an elk calf along Vermilion Lakes a week ago.
“People were able to see the wolves pulling on the carcass throughout the day (on Sept. 12),” he said, noting they they didn’t have to close the area because the pack was far enough away for people to watch from a safe distance.
It’s not yet known whether the wolves are part of a particular pack — although he suspects it’s a new Bow Valley pack.
“They certainly seem to have taken up some space in the vicinity of the townsite and be quite active in this area,” said Gummer. “We are very closely monitoring their behaviour and, in a couple of instances, we have had to respond.”
In August, he said they removed the deer carcass from the townsite. They’ve also tried to haze the wolves out of the area to discourage them from entering high-use areas of the townsite on other occasions, he said.
“For the most part, their activity has been concentrated in the surrounding habitats,” said Gummer, noting they haven’t seen any aggressive behaviour by the wolves — although he noted they can act defensively if they’re startled when they are eating.
Should anyone encounter a wolf, Gummer said it’s important to keep your distance, your children close and your pets on a leash.
“It’s rare to be in a dangerous situation,” he said, noting it would be important to assert your presence and slowly back out of the area.
If you do see a wolf anywhere in Banff National Park, he asked that sightings be reported to dispatch at 403-762-1470.