If you happen to see a bear on the roadside, don’t stop your car in the middle of the highway and don’t approach the animal.
That’s the message Environment Yukon is putting out after reports of “bear jams” happening on the South Klondike Highway near Annie Lake Road.
Two grizzly sows with their cubs have been frequently spotted on the side of that road.
Conservation officers are concerned about the bears becoming used to humans, which can result in conflicts and a bad ending for the bears - being killed.
They’re asking people to stop safely and pull off the road completely when viewing wildlife, to look from inside the car and to leave promptly without lingering.
“We are very excited that people have such a great opportunity to see bears in the wild,” Wildlife Viewing Biologist Carrie McClelland said in a news release. “But we all have a responsibility to take care of our wildlife - it’s possible to love our bears to death.
“Following these basic rules allows you to both enjoy watching a bear while keeping both the bear and yourself safe.”
For more information, go to the Environment Yukon website at env.gov.yk.ca and look for the “bear safety” tab.
In the Yukon it is an offence to feed wildlife. Incidents can be reported at 1-800-661-0525 or env.gov.yk.ca/tipp.