Riding Mountain National Park is one of the most beautiful destinations in the province. Whether you're heading there for some ice cream, to head for a hike, or camping, there is something for everyone.
And while in the park, there is a good chance you will see wildlife. Bear sightings have been very frequent as of late which means cars are stopping on the side of the road to get a better look. While this is allowed, feeding the animals is not. If you are caught, you could face a $25,000 penalty as feeding wildlife is illegal at all Parks Canada parks.
Tim Sallows, a resource management officer with Parks Canada says the bears have plenty of natural resources for food and they don't need human food
"Bears will get comfortable with vehicles if they're fed by humans," said Sallows. "So what they will do is run out to the road to meet vehicles and that has led to bears being hit in the past. Go ahead and look at the bears, but don't feed them."
It's also recommended that you always stay in your vehicle while taking pictures and if a bear is near, keep your hands inside the vehicle. With winding turns throughout the park, driving the speed limit is very important and park officials are always on the lookout for drivers going faster than the limit.
By driving faster than the limit, a driver is minimizing the chance of stopping in time as bears, moose, elk, and deer frequent the trails, especially at night time.
"The speed limit is 80 kilometres-per-hour so it's important that everyone obeys that," offered Sallows. "You also need to pay attention because wildlife can jump out quickly."
If you're camping and you spot a bear on a trail or near your campsite, you should always act big. This has been proven to make a bear head the other way. But if they don't, you should back up slowly.
"Don't turn your back on the bear, that's important," ended Sallows. "Make as much noise as you can, don't sneak up on them because that will end badly."
You must also always have your dog on a leash, at all times.
