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CBC
28 minutes ago
- CBC
Rare encounters with K-Country wolf surprise visitors, make Alberta Parks staff wary
Social Sharing A lone grey wolf encountered by multiple people in Kananaskis Country has possibly become acclimated to the presence of humans, according to Alberta Parks. In a statement to CBC News, Ministry of Forestry and Parks press secretary Neil Singh said the wolf has been seen in campgrounds and along the road on numerous occasions. "The wolf appears to be habituated and does not avoid people as wild wolves typically do," Singh said. "Conservation officers and Alberta Parks staff are monitoring the situation, and have been using aversive conditioning methods when possible, to discourage the wolf from approaching people." Spotting the wolf on the evening of July 16 was longtime wildlife photographer Alec McGrath's first time seeing one up close. "I've been waiting for the last four years to find one ever since I moved out," the Canmore resident told CBC News. He said he was surprised to see the wolf trotting along Highway 40 in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, an area popular with travellers. "Every so often he would look back behind him and check to see if someone else was coming, keep trotting up the road, look back one more time, check to see if anybody else was coming, and he did that several times," McGrath said. McGrath said while the wolf did not appear bothered by him or other passing vehicles, it didn't approach his vehicle either. Audrey Niles, another traveller who saw the wolf earlier that morning, said the wolf seemed to ignore her vehicle as it passed. "I was kind of surprised to see that this wolf paid no attention to us or our vehicle … it was definitely not how I expected a wolf to act," she said. Wolf is possibly 'food-conditioned' In his statement, Singh said "while we cannot confirm what has caused this behaviour, the wolf may have accessed or received human food or rewards from the public, potentially leading to it becoming food-conditioned." Singh's statement did not indicate when or where exactly the problematic wolf had been seen. As of publication time, there are no public advisories in place regarding this wolf, though multiple warnings and closures have been issued throughout Kananaskis Country due to bear activity. The behaviour described by McGrath is "absolutely not" typical for a wild wolf, said Nick de Ruyter, program director of the BioSphere Institute's WildSmart program. "Wolves typically are wary of people, and will do their best to stay away from people, so the fact that this wolf isn't afraid of people … definitely tells me that it's food-conditioned and habituated," he said, comparing it to bear habituation. "Once they're not afraid of people, and don't run away when they see people, that means they're too comfortable," he said. "That's not a good thing." Once a predatory animal acquires a taste for human food, de Ruyter said, it typically doesn't end well. "You get an animal that gets bold, more aggressive, and starts approaching people … once it gets to that point, it's almost too late," he said. "There's really no other option other than potentially relocating an animal or euthanizing it." Government of Alberta data suggests there are around 7,000 grey wolves throughout the province. While seldom seen in the wild, they're not considered an endangered or at-risk species in Alberta. According to de Ruyter, wolves are rarely encountered in the Bow Valley, especially up close. "They are certainly around, but we don't really see them that often," he said of the elusive animals, adding that he's come across wolf tracks on numerous occasions and found multiple wolves through trail camera footage, but only ever seen "one or two" in person. While Alberta Parks did not provide a description of the wolf's appearance, the one seen by McGrath, Niles and others exhibited unusual behaviour consistent with an animal not bothered by human activity. "Based on all the sightings, I'm sadly willing to bet that is the one," McGrath said. McGrath said the wolf was "probably a bit larger than an average German shepherd," describing it as likely being a younger animal. Wolves can typically be distinguished from more common canids like coyotes or stray dogs by their significantly larger size and more muscular build, along with characteristics like rounder ears and more prominent snouts.
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Quebec pool fences: How to make sure you comply with the regulations
As the Sept. 30 deadline approaches, Quebec's regulations on pool fences are continuing to cause confusion among homeowners. Some say that despite having installed fences, they have already been informed that their efforts do not comply with the rules. READ MORE: Pierrefonds residents frustrated as pool fences considered not up to code In simple terms, according to the Quebec government, 'every swimming pool must be surrounded by an enclosure to protect access to it.' After many questions raised, Quebec's Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing elucidated its guidelines in May in an attempt to provide some clarity. So, what are the standards for a fence to be considered compliant? In-ground and semi-inground pools According to the Quebec government, all in-ground or semi-inground swimming pools must: Have a ladder or steps to facilitate entering and exiting the water; Have a fence that is at least 1.2 m (48 inches) tall; Have automatic hinges that close the gate; Have a latch on the pool side that locks the gate. A latch may be installed on the other side if it is 1.5 m above ground; Have a one-metre distance between the fence and the pool. Additionally, the fence must not be climbable, and spherical objects measuring 10 cm in diameter must not be able to pass under the fence. Hedges and shrubs do not count as providing safe enclosure. READ MORE: Pool fence installers slammed as deadline for Quebec safety changes approaches However, a spokesperson with Quebec's Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing clarified to CTV News that 'a house door is permitted in part of the wall that forms the enclosure.' This is the case if it meets one of the following characteristics: The door closes and locks automatically, and the latch on the inside of the home is at least 1.5 m high; The door is surrounded by an enclosure that prevents direct access to the pool (such as the walls of a home and a fence surrounding a property). Additionally, a house window can be part of an enclosure as long as it is: located 3 m or more from the ground on the outside of the home; located 1.2 m or more from the ground on the inside of the home, and not attached or less than 1 m from a fixed structure (e.g., counter); the maximum opening should not allow a spherical object more than 10 cm in diameter to pass; should be equipped with a screen. A door in a fence surrounding a property is permitted if it closes and locks automatically and if the latch is at least 1.5 m from the ground. Above-ground pools Above-ground swimming pools with a wall height of at least 1.2 m at all points or a removable swimming pool with a wall height of 1.4 m or more do not need to be surrounded by an enclosure when access to the pool is via: a ladder equipped with a safety gate that closes and locks automatically; a ladder or platform whose access is protected by a complying enclosure; a deck attached to a home where the opening to the pool is protected by a complying enclosure. Any device related to a pool's operations (such as a filter or pump) must be installed more than one metre from the pool wall or enclosure, unless in a shed or under a structure that prevents access to the pool. The pipes connecting the device to the pool must be flexible and not be installed in a way that could facilitate climbing the pool wall or enclosure.
CBC
an hour ago
- CBC
Stop calling 911 about unhoused people on Public Utility Commission property: CK police
The Chatham-Kent Police Service is asking people to please stop calling 911 about people who are homeless camped on the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) property on Grand Avenue. Calling 911 is for emergencies only, the force said in a news release issued Thursday. "The Chatham-Kent Police Service is aware of the presence of unhoused individuals choosing to shelter at the PUC property, which is municipally-owned and is within the guidelines of the municipality's encampment protocol," police said. "Unhoused individuals are permitted to shelter at this property under existing guidelines." Outreach workers from R.O.C.K., Reach Out Chatham-Kent, have been working with the municipality to help relocate residents of an encampment in the downtown park on the edge of the Thames River. City officials say they needed people out of the park by the start of this week because a construction project requires the site for equipment storage into next year. Unhoused can camp if there's no adequate alternative The eviction has led to confusion among encampment residents and their advocates over where they can legally camp. Courts have ruled that Ontario municipalities cannot evict people living at the encampment without offering adequate, accessible shelter spaces. "This means that the Municipality of Chatham-Kent cannot remove people who are experiencing homelessness unless alternative options are provided or there are compelling safety concerns," the municipality says on its website. "Chatham-Kent's current emergency shelter (Victoria Park Place) operated at 99 per cent capacity on average in 2024, illustrating that there are simply not enough beds for the approximately 200-plus individuals experiencing homelessness in Chatham-Kent." The municipality's encampment policy prohibits encampments in the following areas. On or within 100 metres of municipal playgrounds, water parks, splash pads, beaches or sports fields. On or within 100 metres of any elementary school, childcare facility, assisted living facility or other health or social services facility providing support or care services to youth or vulnerable populations. Within 10 metres of any private property line. On or under bridges. On or within five metres of sidewalks or pedestrian paths. On or within 25 metres of any cemetery. On or within five metres of an off-leash dog area. On or within five metres of any community garden. In any actively used parking lot. In or on any public-use building or structure. In areas that block the free movement of another person on a street, public pathway, sidewalk or other path of public travel. On municipal land where individuals have a private easement or ownership interest or where the municipality owes a duty to maintain the land to the benefit or partial benefit of private individuals (i.e. beach access). On municipal lands in areas obstructing construction or maintenance activities. Structures must be freestanding and able to be moved as necessary, the rules say. The policy also expresses zero tolerance for violence or other criminal acts and demands that sites "maintain a level of reasonable cleanliness."
