Banff GranFondo cycling event braces for more bears, wolves along route

The Banff GranFondo cycling eventis preparing for much morewildlife than usual along the route, witha wolf warningin place and an already busy summer of bear activity throughout the national park.

Organizers of the 150-kilometre ride on Saturdaysay they have been told to expect16 times as much wildlife activity as usual this year.

That's in part because of a bumper crop of berries that came out weeks earlier than usual, luring bears into valley bottoms where the people are.

There have also been a record number of people out on some mountaintrails, increasing the chance of bear-human encounters, spurring a number of trail closures and warnings,and contributing to some attacks.

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Banff townsite and area have also been under wolf warnings, withthe Bow Valley pack wandering into campsites and backyards,forcing authorities to kill an alpha female and ayearling in recent weeks.

Parks Canada has repeatedly had to warn people not to feed the wolves, either deliberately, or inadvertentlyby leaving out food and garbage.

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Neil McKinnon with the Banff GranFondo saidthere are no plans to alter the 150-kilometreroute,but noted wildlife could still force some changes on the day of the race.

"We have many contingencies to deal with bear, elk and even wolf activity," he said.

Motorbikeswill drive out in front of the cyclists and send the message back to the racers about any animal warnings ahead.

"Their flagging system is caution, proceed or stop," McKinnon said.

McKinnonsaidregistrations were slow to start this year due to the economy, but the event is still a sell-out,with 1,500 riders taking part.

In 2012, someracers ran into a grizzly bear and cubs at Baker Creek on Highway 1A between Banff and Lake Louise and the race had to be re-routed.

Cycling enthusiast Trev Williams says a repeat of that would be frustrating.

"For some people it will be a relief and for some people it will be a big disappointment," he said. "Hopefully they can can come up with something,if they do have to re-route the course,something just as spectacular."

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