It is a time of year when cute baby animals are being born, but don’t be fooled – protective mothers can be dangerous.

It is elk calving season again, and to reduce the potential of elk/human conflicts, and to provide low disturbance areas for cow elk to have their calves, trail closures have been put in place around Jasper. Currently, closures include the area between the Athabasca River and the Wapiti Trail across from Whistlers Campground, the area west of Pine Bungalows between Highway 16 and the Athabasca River and the area between the Athabasca River and the Lac Beauvert road from Old Fort Point. This includes the Lac Beauvert Trail and Trail #7 between Old Fort Point and Lac Beauvert. Warning signs have also been posted in the high use areas between Lake Edith and Whistlers Campground.

Grant Peregoodoff, human/wildlife conflict specialist with Parks Canada, said that this time of year, the calving season, is the time when people are most at risk of a negative elk encounter.

“I honestly think that this period offers more opportunity for people to be injured,” said Peregoodoff, adding that cow elk are very aggressive while protecting their calves.

He said it can be easy to stumble on to a calf as the cows give birth right near town, near Jasper Park Lodge and at any other nearby lodges and campgrounds.

“The elk are habituated around town and would rather put up with whatever annoyance people provide, versus the bears, wolves, coyotes and cougars,” said Peregoodoff. “Every day we clear the town of elk at 7 a.m. and every night they move back in. It’s part of their predator avoidance strategy and that’s why they calve in people places. It’s a bad mix, especially with calving mothers.”

Parks Canada staff advise people to stay at least 30 metres away from any elk, but because they like to be near the campgrounds – especially Whistlers – that keeps Parks staff very busy at this time of year.

“Last year we moved 37 calves from all the locations around Jasper,” said Peregoodoff. Human/wildlife conflict specialists work as a team to move the calves, using hockey sticks with flagging tape at the ends to ward off the mother, while moving the calf to a safe place. The mother will follow.

Peregoodoff said that elk babies are scentless at first and it’s the first 10 days that the mothers are most protective. 

“The elk here can understand bluffing,” he said. “So act dominant [one of the ways to avoid an elk conflict] while also moving to somewhere safe.”

Along with the three closures and general warnings, Parks Canada posts information at all the hotels and information centres. Staff patrol the closures every couple of days. The best way to avoid an encounter is to respect trail closures and be aware of the surroundings. 

Aggressive elk gestures include staring intently, folding their ears forward, raising the hair on their rumps, grinding their teeth, curling their lips and following or circling around people on trails. Parks staff recommend that hikers travel in a group on trails and carry walking sticks, pepper spray or an umbrella for protection. 

Peregoodoff  said it is also important to watch for single cow elk. 

“Elks stay in herds unless they are calving, so if you see a lone female it’s a good indication that something is up,” he said. If a calf elk is spotted, immediately leave the area - the cow elk is not far off. 

If you are unable to avoid an encounter with an elk, or surprise one on a trail, do the following: 

• Act dominant if an elk gets too close. 

• Raise your arms or any big object (jacket or umbrella) to make yourself appear dominant. 

• Maintain eye contact, and never turn your back or run. 

• Climb a tree or keep an object, like a tree or large rock, between you and the elk. 

• Back slowly out of the area and warn other hikers. 

• If you are knocked down or fall, get up and try to move to cover or use an object to protect yourself. Do not play dead.

Report any incident of an aggressive elk to the Resource Conservation Office at 780-852-6155.