In a case that violated hunting restrictions under the Canada National Parks Act, a Canadian man named Serge Painchaud has pleaded guilty to shooting and injuring a black bear in Alberta’s Jasper National Park. The incident occurred in August of last year and has resulted in a fine of CA$7,500 (approximately $5,641) for Painchaud. This information was reported by The Guardian.
When Painchaud went hiking with two friends, he became tired and decided to turn back alone. While he was alone, he encountered a bear about 100 feet away and across a creek, according to the agreed statement of facts in the case obtained by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Feeling scared, Painchaud fired a warning shot into the air using his 20-gauge shotgun, unaware that firearms are prohibited in Canada’s national parks.
Despite the warning shot, the bear moved closer to Painchaud, prompting him to shoot and injure the animal. The wounded bear rolled down a creek bank and escaped into the forest. Justice Rosanna Saccomani stated that Painchaud’s fear of the bear was irrelevant to the case, as fear of bears is common in such situations.
Wardens from Parks Canada discovered bear blood at the scene but were unsuccessful in locating the injured bear due to the challenging forest landscape. Kevin Gedling, a spokesperson for Parks Canada, mentioned to the Western Standard that injured bears can pose a risk as they may become more aggressive.
It is worth noting that bear attacks are rare, and the U.S. National Park Service provides a detailed guide on how hikers should behave if they encounter bears. The guide emphasizes the importance of remaining calm, appearing large, and speaking assertively. Running from a bear is strongly discouraged, as bears are fast runners and tend to chase fleeing prey.
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