Hikers face $25,000 fine after off-leash dog barked at grizzly bear on Banff National Park trail

Two hikers are facing charges after their off-leash dog repeatedly ran toward and barked at a grizzly bear during an encounter in Banff National Park.

The incident unfolded on the Taylor Lake trailhead, about nine miles southeast of Lake Louise, when Washington residents Brook and Kraig Koski walked away from Bear 142, a well-known female grizzly bear in the park.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE NEWS FROM OUTKICK

According to the information obtained, Kraig first encountered the bear while running in front of his wife on the road. Brook recorded the approximately 90-second video as the bear slowly followed Kraig, who was walking backwards facing him and carrying bear spray.

Meanwhile, their little dog, Lola, was running freely among the hikers and grizzly bears, barking at the bear from time to time.

“Stand back!” Kraig can be heard shouting.

“You’re so close!” Brook speaks from behind the camera.

The walkers also repeatedly call out to Lola, but at no point in the video do they leash the dog or simply pick her up — despite having ample opportunity to do so.

One of the most annoying videos you will ever watch.

Finally, Bear 142 leaves the road and disappears into the forest. Luckily, the encounter ended with no one injured, but Parks Canada officers were able to identify the hikers after the video was posted online and viewed millions of times.

WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER STAYS ICE COLD AS GIANT HERO BEAR APPROACHES TO CAMERA

The couple currently faces regulatory charges under Canada’s National Parks Act for having an off-leash dog in a national park. Pets must be secured on a leash no longer than three metres, and walkers could face fines of up to $25,000 if found guilty.

“Not keeping your pets on a leash in national parks poses a risk to pets and wildlife,” Parks Canada spokesman James Eastham said. he said in a statement. “Bears and other wildlife can react aggressively towards dogs they see as a threat, which can lead to injury or death.”

A Bear Country sign in Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park warns visitors to protect their property and store food properly. (titoslack/Getty Images)

Nick de Ruyter, program director for WildSmart for the Bow Valley Biosphere Institute, praised Parks Canada for pressing charges because “there was plenty of time in the video to catch the dog and put the dog on a leash.”

“The safety of them, their pets and other people is much more important than getting that video,” he said.

Definitely.

As someone who goes for walks with my dog ​​all the time, this is the kind of behavior that makes responsible dog owners want to tear their hair out.

Keeping a dog on a leash in bear country isn’t an arbitrary rule designed to ruin anyone’s fun. It protects the dog, wildlife and any hikers who may encounter an already agitated animal further down the trail.

Instead, Lola was allowed to run around barking at a grizzly bear while her owners repeatedly shouted her name and continued filming.

This is how dogs are banned from the roads. Responsible owners who follow the rules lose access this way.

“Off-leash dogs can also cause wildlife stress, which can lead them to avoid important habitat and food sources,” Eastham said. “Always keep your pets on a leash when visiting national parks.”

Bear 142 is estimated to be approximately 16 years old and is the daughter of Bear 122, better known as “The Boss”. She raised several cubs in Banff National Park and lost one after being hit by a train earlier this year.

A grizzly bear stands in the wild, captured in its natural habitat. (Jillian Cooper/Getty Images)

Grizzly bears are considered a threatened species in Alberta.

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION

In this case, the hikers were lucky. The dog was lucky. And Bear 142 was lucky that a completely avoidable encounter didn’t end much worse.

Do you love wildlife and all things outdoors? Follow OutKick Outdoors instagram And tiktok!