In a move designed to keep the public and animals safer, Jasper National Park has employed two wildlife guardians for the summer.

The guardians will respond to wildlife jams throughout the park (except on highway 16) and provide information to visitors about bears, elk and other animals.

“We’re trying to provide safer wildlife viewing opportunities,” said Grant Peregoodoff, the Jasper National Park wildlife conflict specialist who is helping oversee the program.

The move represents a large shift for Parks Canada, as it is rooted in the new focus on visitor experience. With a mandate to enhance wildlife safety, public safety and provide public education, the program allows parks to monitor human-wildlife situations instead of simply breaking them up.

“Parks Canada is slowly changing its views on habituation,” said Peregoodoff. “Yellowstone National Park has been running a similar program and we’re drifting toward their model.”

In Yellowstone, bears are learning to live with traffic nearby, Peregoodoff said. They are often spotted next to roads where they can find food. He also said bears that grow up near traffic tend to be less dominant in Yellowstone.

Allowing bears to spend more time around roads is controversial, as a report on grizzly bear mortality in Alberta concludes most grizzlies die near roads.

The guardians have been directed to ensure the public does not come within 100 metres of a bear or 30 metres from other large species. The public is not allowed to come within 200 metres of den sites.

Prior to this, Parks Canada would break up wildlife jams by delivering warnings and tickets to drivers and using aversive conditioning such as rubber bullets on the animals. While they can still use these measures if warranted, the wildlife guardians are essentially interpreters who are also capable of monitoring the public and providing information. For example, if they witness a bear being fed, they can report and photograph the incident.

If trouble does arise, the guardians are directed to radio resource conservation officers for assistance with the animals, or park wardens if charges are warranted. The guardians will not be on Highway 16 due to traffic safety concerns.

“They are interpreters that help provide a safe experience in which to view wildlife. They can ask people to leave,” Peregoodoff said.

A similar program has been run in the Bow Valley for 12 years, and is often showcased as a success for Parks. While the Banff program focus is solely on bears, the Jasper program also provides information about elk, bighorn sheep and mountain goats.

When the guardians aren’t on the road, they will be roving the trails providing information to hikers about the park, using various props such as bear skulls and teeth to teach the public about wildlife.

Wildlife guardian Valerie Domaine said she’s had several positive comments about the program.

“People have been receptive so far. If there is a good viewing opportunity, we’re there to answer questions... It’s the best job ever,” Domaine said.

The guardians count the wildlife seen, as well as the number of people they talk to.

The pilot program will run for two years and Peregoodoff said it will be monitored to see if it’s worth continuing. 

“It’s been a great success in Banff,” Peregoodoff said.”