After a one month closure, the main trail in Hardy Falls Regional Park is once again open for visitors.  The canyon trail to the falls viewpoint was closed due to bear activity on September 12th.

Communications Officer Bruce Smith says, “The animals that forced us to temporarily close the trails appear to have moved on.  However, people visiting Hardy Falls Regional Park should continue to be vigilant and be prepared for possible encounters with bears and other wildlife.  We’ve posted signs in areas where bears have been active.  Evidence of bears continues to be found in many regional parks including Mission Creek, the Mission Creek Greenway, Bertram Creek and Rose Valley Regional Park.”

To reduce your chance of encountering a bear while hiking, it’s recommended that you travel in a group, make noise or carry something that makes noise to alert any wildlife in advance to your presence.  Smith says, “If you see a bear, give it plenty of space and stay well away from it.”

People should respect all bears and anticipate and avoid encounters with them whenever possible.  Bears can be aggressive, especially when defending their food or their cubs.  Bears also have excellent senses of smell and hearing, and better sight than you might believe.  For their safety, dog owners are reminded when in Regional Parks that their pets must be leashed and kept on trails at all times.  Provincial Conservation Officers are advised of the bear sightings and along with Regional Parks staff, monitor the situation in local parks.  

As well, residents are reminded to keep any garbage securely stored on their property and please don’t put out your garbage cart until the morning of your regular curbside collection.  That way you’re not tempting bears or other wildlife.

Meanwhile, a portion of Scenic Canyon Regional Park and the Mission Creek Greenway (from Layer Cake Mountain Lookout to the Field and McCulloch Road parking areas) remains closed due to continued cougar activity in the vicinity.

News from © iNFOnews, 2013