Parks Canada has closed several backcountry campsites around Lake Minnewanka after a bear encounter. In a Tuesday social media post, Parks Canada says a bear of unknown species investigated the outside of an occupied tent at a campsite. The bear didn’t get inside the tent and eventually moved on, and Parks Canada said there were no reported injuries nor was bear spray used. The federal agency says all backcountry campsites around the lake will be closed “out of an abundance of caution” until further notice. The closure comes about a month after a major stretch of the popular Banff National Park lake’s shoreline was closed after a group hungry black bears was spotted in the area displaying “food-seeking behaviour.” Seasonal trail restrictions, meanwhile, remain in effect in the area until Sept. 15. Until then, hiking in groups of four or more is required around the area and bear spray is mandatory.
