Bears prompt 'no stopping zone' in Kootenay National Park

An 11-kilometre "no stopping zone"has been set up once again this year on Highway 93 south in Kootenay National Park, Parks Canada officials said Thursday.

• Banff Bear 122 unafraid of railways, even after being hit by train
• No grizzly bears killed by people in Banff-area national parks in 2015

The move comes after grizzly bears, black bears and other wildlife havebeen observed on theroadway thatstretches from Radium, B.C., north to the Banff turnoff on Highway 1.

Officials say stopping within the zone, which runs from McKay Creek Operations Centre to Cobb Lake,is restricted totrailheadparking areas.

Officials say stoppingincreases animal interactions with humans and vehicles, and creates traffic hazards.

The zone was first put in place in 2014 after agrizzly and her cubsforaging nearOlive Lakecausedtraffic chaos as people stopped to look at the animals.

Motorists are asked to report all bear sightings toBanff Dispatchat 403-762-1473.

• Bear feeding caught on video in Banff leads to $1,000 fine
• Bears near highway prompt no-stopping zone in Kootenay National Park
• Kootenay grizzly mom and cubs prompt no-stopping zone