Parks Canada issues no-stopping zone along Banff highway after several bear jams

Three black bears are shown as they're released in the Banff National Park backcountry in this Tuesday, July 17, 2018 handout photo. (Parks Canada)

Parks Canada has issued a no stopping zone along a stretch of the Bow Valley Parkway after receiving reports of several bear jams on the roadway.

Parks Canada says visitors will not be allowed to stop their vehicles along the 1.5-kilometre stretch of the highway between Baker Creek Chalets and Protection Mountain Campground in Banff National Park.

The designation comes as Parks staff have responded to unsafe parking along the roadway and people leaving their vehicles to approach bears, the agency said in a news release.

“Crowding bears along the roadside and actively pursuing them causes bears stress and may result in them avoiding critical food sources and habitat,” Parks Canada said.

“Crowds of people can also block critical escape routes for bears who may be trying to avoid oncoming trains.”

June is also mating season for bears, and male bears can display unpredictable behaviour, the news release added.

“These stressors, combined with high levels of human presence, create the risk of a negative human-bear encounter,” Parks Canada said in a news release.