Parks Canada provides gateways to nature, adventure, and discovery for visitors to national parks. One of the amazing attractions of Jasper National Park is the chance to see wild animals living free in their natural world. With more than two million visitors a year, it takes a conscious effort from each of us to make sure we don鈥檛 harm the very thing that makes the park special: its wild nature.
Jasper National Park鈥檚 wildlife guardians are specially trained interpreters that patrol roadways that assist in ensuring a safe and ethical wildlife viewing experience for both visitors and wildlife. You will see this year鈥檚 team of seven individuals and their stylized white mini vans at wildlife jams, at roadside pull-offs with interesting displays and at evening campfire programs. 聽Since the program鈥檚 inception in 2010, Jasper鈥檚 wildlife guardians have made contact with nearly 80,000 park visitors.
Safety is of utmost importance to the Parks Canada team and when wildlife guardians come across a wildlife traffic jam they quickly size up the situation and begin to organize traffic and visitors to optimize everyone鈥檚 chances to watch and photograph the wildlife while keeping everyone safe. They manage traffic to keep wildlife watchers safely inside their vehicles with the goal of preventing traffic accidents and to avoid overwhelming animals with people. 聽Interpreters are always checking that the situation is safe and that the animals are not being unduly stressed. 聽If needed, the guardians can end the wildlife viewing opportunity and clear the jam by asking the visitors to move along and let the animal be.
The vans are also equipped to bring wildlife interpretation to the airwaves through the wildlife guardian radio stations (96.7 FM English, 94.7 FM French). Available in both official languages, visitors are able to tune in for interpretive information including profiles on each of the animals who call Jasper National Park home along with safety messages.
There are also many wildlife jams that are not managed by the wildlife guardians. 聽If you find yourself at one of these please do the following:
If you see wildlife:
Consider not stopping.
Know that bears and other animals need to forage undisturbed in order to gain enough fat to survive the winter.
Your decision to drive by without stopping gives them the space they need to survive in this challenging landscape.
If you stop:
Pull over where it is safe to do so.
Use your hazard lights to alert other drivers
Observe and photograph bears and all the other wild animals from the safety of your car.
Remain a respectful distance from all wild animals.
Watch for a moment and then move on.鈥╒isitor and wildlife safety is of utmost importance to Parks Canada. If a traffic jam develops, it becomes unsafe for people and wildlife. Please be courteous and help the Jasper wildlife guardians with your cooperation.
Parks Canada
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