YOHO – Another female grizzly bear has died in the mountain national parks.
The dead bear was found near Burgess Pass – a 12.9-kilometre out and back trail located near Field in Yoho National Park – on Saturday (Sept. 4).
The cause of the bear’s death appears to be unknown at this point.
“The bear was unknown to Parks Canada and a necropsy will be scheduled to determine cause of death,” said James Eastham, a spokesperson for Lake Louise, Yoho and Kootenay in an emailed statement.
Parks Canada declined the Outlook’s request for an interview.
No cubs were found in the area and wildlife crews were quick to remove the carcass of the female grizzly bear.
“This was necessary to prevent the carcass from attracting wildlife that may pose a risk to visitors,” Eastham said.
Three other female grizzly bears have died this summer – one struck on the Icefields Parkway near Bow Lake in Banff National Park in August; another on the train tracks near Vermilion Lakes just west of the Banff townsite in June, and a female who was run over on the Trans-Canada Highway in Yoho in May.
In two of these cases, there were orphaned cubs.
As of 2020, Parks Canada estimated there were approximately 60 to 80 grizzly bears in Banff National Park and approximately 24 to 30 grizzly bears throughout Yoho and Kootenay national parks.
“These estimates include wide ranges because many bears have home ranges that include multiple national parks and/or provincial lands,” Eastham said
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