Human-wildlife conflict

The goal of human-wildlife conflict management is to protect both humans and wildlife by eliminating negative interactions. To accomplish this, a combination of proactive and reactive management actions are taken. Proactive management involves educating the public on how to safely coexist with wildlife, monitoring wildlife movement and minimizing animal attractants. Reactive management is the response to an incident. Reactive management could include hazing, trapping, relocating and in worst case scenarios destroying an animal. The two main animals that these principals are applied to in Prince Albert National Park are elk and the American black bear.

Elk populations in the park are healthy and a large number of elk reside in and around the town of Waskesiu Lake. With so many wild animals in close proximity to humans, a proactive approach, such as closing trail and certain areas to protect elk and visitors during the spring calving season, may be taken. Hazing has also proven to be an effective management practice when dealing with elk. Visual, audible, and in extreme cases, pain stimuli are used to encourage animals to move away from high traffic visitor areas. Hazing might occur at any time of year and is most frequent in the late summer and fall when bull elk are in rut and more aggressive.

A wider variety of management practices are used with bears. Conflict between humans and bears often arises as a result of negligent human activity, mainly the improper handling and storage of food and garbage. Proactive management activities such as the “Bare Camping" program or bear proof facility design help reduce conflict between bears and people. If bears begin to display unnatural or dangerous behaviour, such as damaging property (e.g., coolers and other camping equipment) or aggressive behaviour toward humans more direct management tools are deployed. Problem bears can be hazed from high use areas, trapped and relocated or in extreme cases of habituation to humans, destroyed.

If you see a bear or wildlife displaying abnormal behaviour or feel threatened by wildlife in Prince Albert National Park contact Parks Canada’s emergency dispatch.
1-877-852-3100

Learn more about bear and wildlife safety in Prince Albert National Park.