Famous White Grizzly Bearlocally known as Nakodawas found dead two days after being injured in a car accident Yoho National Park In B.C.
Parks Canada Bear 178 was found dead on June 8, believed to have died from internal injuries caused by a collision near the Lake O'Hara turnoff on the Trans-Canada Highway.
Nakoda's two cubs Independent vehicle accidents On the highway earlier in the day.
Wildlife wardens saw Nakoda running onto the road after being startled by a passing train.
“One of the vehicles swerved to avoid a collision, but the second vehicle was unable to react and struck the bear,” Parks Canada said in a statement.
After the incident, the bear 178 climbed over a fence and walked with a slight limp. Wildlife officials said they hoped it would recover from its injuries, but Nakoda was found dead two days later.
Nakoda climbs over a wildlife fence in Yoho National Park.
Photo by Jason Leo Bantel/All in the Wild
Parks Canada has been monitoring the white grizzly bear since 2022, when it was fitted with a GPS collar.
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Officials said wildlife staff spent a lot of time with her, often from dawn to dusk.
“The team had a strong fondness and connection with GBF178 (Nakoda) and her death is devastating to the team and we are fully committed to trying to prevent this outcome,” the statement read.
Parks Canada said staff took extensive measures to try to remove the bear from the roadside.
Earlier that same day, Nakoda's two cubs were killed in a collision with another vehicle.
Around 5:15 a.m. on June 6, wildlife managers found the bodies of the two cubs on the Trans-Canada Highway. The mother was also on the road and had been driven back behind a nearby wildlife fence.
Parks Canada said Bear 178 was “very keen” to spend time on the road and that its level of interaction with humans made it “very comfortable” while it searched for food along the trail.
The white grizzly bear stopped on the side of the highway and flagged down several cars.
Photo by Jason Leo Bantel/All in the Wild
“Bears that become habituated to humans often have negative consequences,” Parks Canada said.
“While Parks Canada is working to make roads safer for wildlife, we must re-emphasize to visitors the importance of not stopping to view wildlife, driving carefully and obeying speed limits.”
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