Fortunately, there have been no cases of such measures being taken since Mr. Robinson has been involved with Terra Nova National Park, though some animals have been relocated to other areas of the park.
“If you move, that’s a lot of stress on your family. Think of yourself as a bear – you have your home range, that’s your territory you’ve marked as yours. All of a sudden, you’re uprooted, caught in a trap, transported miles and miles away, and plopped into the forest again. It’s like being in a totally foreign environment.”
Mr. Robinson said campers in the park would be advised to not leave food out on picnic tables or inside easily accessible tents – the trunk of a car or motorhome is ideal. Food left along the highway is also a no-no, he said, as it may attract wild animals to the laneways used by passing cars and trucks.
“The minute you start putting food out along the highway, now the bear is starting to hang out there. Then, more people are going to stop, try to feed it and take pictures. The next thing you know, the bear is in the middle of the road getting run over by a transport truck.”
He said research on the black bear and coyote populations for Terra Nova National Park has not been updated in a long time. He said the black bear population on the western end of the park is somewhat inflated due to the nearby presence of a landfill site not far from the park’s boundaries.
Mr. Robinson said it is okay for people who see an animal along the highway to stop and take a picture, but in the case of black bears or coyotes, they should stay in their vehicles.
“Make sure you’re well off the road in a safe location when doing so. Don’t leave your vehicle.”
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