Roadside grizzly bear viewing a safety concern, say officials

People are getting too close to the grizzly bear families seen alongside the South Klondike Highway, sayEnvironment Yukon officials.

Conservation officers say there is one grizzly sow with three one-year-old cubs and one collared grizzly sow with two two-year-old cubs in thearea near Annie Lake Road.

They say there have been several "bear jams" in the past week as people have been getting out of their cars and tour buses to approach the bears.

There are indications that the bears are becoming habituated to humans and that"usually results in conflict and a bad ending for the bears," say officials. It is also a safety concern for people who live in the area.

Proper wildlife viewing etiquette is to stop safely and pull off the road completely, look from inside your vehicleand leave promptly without lingering.

It is also an offence to feed wildlife.

Environment Yukon is asking the public to reportincidents of concern to theTIPPline at 1-800-661-0525.