Are Grizzly Bears becoming increasingly more violent?
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Canmore Canada- Over the last two weeks we have seen two violent Grizzly bear attacks unfold in the Banff and Jasper area. One man was just simply walking along a trail on the Ice Fields parkway, when a Grizzly came tearing out of the woods and mauled him. Just yesterday, two hikers were involved in a violent attack, where the Grizzly bit through the man's shoe, puncturing his calf and rupturing his spleen. Although there were no fatalities, both men suffered pretty serious injuries. In light this recent attacks, some are asking the question: Are Grizzly bear attacks becoming more frequent?
We asked biologist and ecologist Kevin Kiermaier, professor at Calgary University, to weigh in on the matter. "I have been studying the behavior of Grizzly bears in the Rockies for nearly thirty years now, and this is the worst I have seen", said professor Kiermaier. "Over the past five years, we have had more bear attacks than we had in the previous twenty. This trend is very troubling." It's not just the increase in attacks that has many people worried, but the ferocious nature of these attacks. "The way that these attacks are taking place has me very concerned about human safety and future interactions between bears and humans. Bear attacks in the middle of December are extremely rare around these parts. Bears are scarcely seen during this time of the year and typically hibernate in early December. The fact that we have had two vicious attacks in the last week and half really baffles me."
One reason that we are seeing such a drastic behavior change for Grizzlies could be climate change. The Canadian Rockies have seen a consistent rise in temperature the last fifteen years or so. This rise in temperature has created slightly shorter winters and thus impacting the food supply for the bears. Professor Kiemaier said he has been monitoring climate change and the ramifications it might have on the ecosystem in the Rockies for the last several years now. "I think a warming climate could certainly be a factor for why we are seeing such a precipitous change in behavior from these bears. The shorter winters are causing the snow covered hillsides to melt by late-April as opposed to early June, causing an early bloom in flowers and food resources for Grizzlies. Since most Grizzlies hibernate in the lower elevations, they slowly work their way northward to the highest elevations and back country for the spring flowers, roots, and berries. But by mid-June, most of these flowers lose their buds, and thus become less desirable for the Grizzlies. This has caused them to come back down to the lower elevations towards humans in search for food. Unfortunately, most of our hiking trails are in the lower elevations and thus we have had more conflicts with Grizzlies." Kiermaier though cautions that he is not certain about this theory and that many other factors play a role. This idea of climate change impacting Grizzlies like this is just one theory or reason for why they might be so suddenly changing in behavior.
Some business owners in the Banff-Jasper region are worried that the headlines these gruesome bear attacks are getting could affect tourism. Trey Mancini, owner of the General store in Jasper, doesn't think that there is big issue with humans and bears. "All people see are a few articles a year in bold big letters about bear attacks. I have lived in Jasper for nearly twenty years now and I have never had an issue with the bears around here. If all you read are a few articles that portray these mountains as being filled with blood thirsty monsters, then of course it will give people a pause about bringing their families here. I think its overblown."
We asked professor Kiermaier his recommendations for hikers and tourists for this upcoming year. He said, "Hike in groups of at least four to six. Make lots of noise, carry bear bells, bear spray, and just be alert. If you have little children do not let them venture off the trail. Ask local park rangers if there has been any recent bear activity before you hike. That's really all you can do. Although you may take all the precautions necessary, people have to realize that we are hiking right into the backyards of carnivorous apex predators. And we really don't know when they may attack." Kiermaier said he is hopeful that bears and humans can continue to coexist and that these troubling trends will go down this summer. "I guess the best thing we can do is to be cautious, keep our fingers crossed and hope that this trend of bear attacks goes down this year.
This is a satirical website. Don't take it Seriously. It's a joke.
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