May 12, 2014, 8:02 a.m. -
Dana Wildlassiskier Foster
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Too many float plane drops at Spruce Lake- some days it's non-stop everyday of
the week. Also saw the most idiotic behaviour at Spruce Lake by large group of
mtn.bikers. Mother Grizzly and two cubs were foraging near the campsite(major
habitat corridor). Group was cooking Bacon- three bears came very close to
their site. Instead of giving the bears space- most of the group grabbed their
cameras and went after the bears. The valley is narrow there and it contains
irreplaceable habitat at specific times of the year for Grizzly Bears.
I do not see setting place and time restrictions for mountain biking
activities as having a detrimental impact on this type of use in the South
Chilcotin Parks. Business will still flourish for tourism operators possibly
making conditions for their success even better.
I live and work in bear habitat and have been a dedicated mtn biker for three
decades- nearly all of the closest and most sudden encounters with bears has
been on a bike. Except for a super intense encounter ski mountaineering in May
in Wells Gray Park.
Perhaps much of the Grizzly population in the SC are somewhat habituated to
fast moving bikes (I also own and ride horses which is a much slower activity)
but is habituation of wildlife in Class A parks a worthy goal?
May 12, 2014, 8:02 a.m. - Dana Wildlassiskier Foster
#!markdown Too many float plane drops at Spruce Lake- some days it's non-stop everyday of the week. Also saw the most idiotic behaviour at Spruce Lake by large group of mtn.bikers. Mother Grizzly and two cubs were foraging near the campsite(major habitat corridor). Group was cooking Bacon- three bears came very close to their site. Instead of giving the bears space- most of the group grabbed their cameras and went after the bears. The valley is narrow there and it contains irreplaceable habitat at specific times of the year for Grizzly Bears. I do not see setting place and time restrictions for mountain biking activities as having a detrimental impact on this type of use in the South Chilcotin Parks. Business will still flourish for tourism operators possibly making conditions for their success even better. I live and work in bear habitat and have been a dedicated mtn biker for three decades- nearly all of the closest and most sudden encounters with bears has been on a bike. Except for a super intense encounter ski mountaineering in May in Wells Gray Park. Perhaps much of the Grizzly population in the SC are somewhat habituated to fast moving bikes (I also own and ride horses which is a much slower activity) but is habituation of wildlife in Class A parks a worthy goal?