Don't 'save' baby animals and other dumb things humans do in the wilderness
As the May long weekend arrives, it's time to remember how boneheaded humans can be in the great outdoors
Canadians might like to think of themselves as one with the wilderness, but there are several recent reminders of how boneheaded we can be in the great outdoors.
First, there's the case of a Quebec man who loaded a bison calf in his vehicle at Yellowstone National Park — misguidedly concerned for its safety — resulting in the calf being euthanized.
Then, four dudes from Vancouver also visiting Yellowstone had to apologize and are facing a criminal complaint after posting video of them traipsing off the path at the park's largest hot spring.
So, as the May long weekend arrives, here's what not to do ... from an expert who sees these things all too often.
1. Baby animals don't need your help.
The Yellowstone bison story made news worldwide, but Insp. Murray Smith of the B.C. Conservation Officer Service says they get calls every spring from people concerned about young animals left alone.
"We just had a [call about a] young deer fawn that was born and 'glistening wet,'" said Smith, who is responsible for the Lower Mainland region. "The public was worried that it was orphaned."
- Bison calf euthanized after tourists load it into back of SUV
- Leave the baby animals alone, says wildlife rescue centre
What the caller didn't realize is, that's what plenty of animal moms do: leave their young alone, in a secluded place, while she forages for food.
A human watching over the young — or worse, moving it — does not help, and may scare the mother away.
"We need to just back off," said Smith. "The worst thing you can do is get involved and pick that wildlife up and take it into your care and control."
The animal might end up in a rehabilitation centre or killed.
"If you were to take it home and think it would make a great little pet, strong chance you would be charged as well under the Wildlife Act."
2. Chasing animals? Bad idea.
If there's an epic fail when it comes to harassing animals, B.C. saw it last summer: a man charged after leaping on a moose in a lake, and trying to ride it.
That was a "unique" case, said Smith, but conservation officers do bust people for harassing animals in other ways — like chasing them in an ATV.
"They can get to thinking that 'you know, that would be fun,'" said Smith. "Really poor choices."
"If you're of that kind of mentality, you're going to chase just about anything, including bears, including coyotes, including anything that's there ... you're going to chase it."
It's also illegal — someone caught harassing wildlife can get a ticket for $575, Smith said.
"That's just the lower option. If it was significant, like the person who was riding that moose, you're going to go to court."
3. Don't feed them. Especially by hand.
Earlier this month, a video surfaced showing a man hand-feeding a bear near Tofino, which sounds remarkable — and dangerous — but is also fairly common, Smith said.
"We have a number of people who ... like to see bears and they want them close, and so they put out things that are going to attract them."
That can range from hand-fed snacks to accessible garbage and fruit trees — but either way, attracting dangerous wildlife with food is a problem for public safety and the bear, said Smith.
- Bears in Lower Mainland waking up early — and hungry
- Low salmon stocks lead to more conflicts between bears and humans, study suggests
Campers this weekend need to pay particular attention, and either lock food up in their car or string it up in a tree.
"People have got to understand when you're out there in the wilderness, there's bears all over, and they've got a great sense of smell."
4. Conservation officers will be watching.
The May long weekend is not a holiday for the conservation service, which will have extra officers on duty watching for all the above — as well as fishing, campfires and other rules.
"This is a big weekend for us," said Smith. "We've got conservation officers out into the evening well past midnight."
Anyone who is concerned about an animal — or something a human is doing to one — should call the B.C. Conservation Service hotline at 1-877-952-7277 or #7277 on mobile.