Banff National Park: Wildlife Habitat or Business?

"In the fall of 1883, three Canadian Pacific Railway construction workers stumbled across a cave containing hot springs on the eastern slopes of Alberta's Rocky Mountains. From that humble beginning was born Banff National Park, Canada's first national park and the world's third."  This is the way Parks Canada describes the beautiful start of Banff, but will it stay beautiful 'till the end?  One can only predict.  

Banff National Park is not a big area of all meadows, glaciers, and thriving wildlife.  True, the area is reknown for its mountains, hot mineral springs, and large populations of elk, but what about the townsite, the village, and highways.

During the 1800's the wolf population was almost eradicated by the hunters, now, there is another threat-the highways.  Every year, park wardens end up picking up wolves from the highways in Banff National Park rather than new cubs in dens.  Animals are blind to these restrictions, and this is a perfect example of the result of the changes we've made to natural areas.  There are several highways, including the Trans Canada Highway, Ice Fields Parkway, and Bow Valley Parkway that run between Lake Louise & Lake Jasper. 

In addition to these highways, there is also a town right in the midst of Banff National Park as well as village by Lake Louise.  Citizens and both nature inhabit this area, causing a problem between the two of them.  Its an everyday sight, to see a moose, walking along the sidewalk, when you are touring Banff Park.  It's also normal to see them  feeding off the front lawns of houses, which is usually unfavoured by most residents.  The streets are named after animals such as wolves, and bears, but there aren't any on them, except flat concrete.  Campgrounds are provided for tourists, taking away even more land from nature.  With all these grassy campgrounds, and a whole town, it creates a problematic situation for nature to take its own course. 

Prescribed fires are one of the main concerns.  Recreational activities, and commercialization in the middle of Banff means that its harder for natural fires to occur and even to set prescribed ones.  Due to this factor, the elk population might feed on the same plants as the moose population, this causes transfer of parasites, which could decline their health level.  

All of this and even the natural areas include bus lines, and ferry trains to take visitors around the park.  Banff might be called a "National Park," but it has  crossed boundaries too far, and put man before nature.  Parks National Act states that if the commercialization and human activities are seen as a threat to the natural area, then wildlife must be given first choice.  Have we abided these rules?  Well, the answer would be no.  But, things are turning around, Banff National Park is trying to restore its natural area, as well as provide more attention to ecological management, and maintenance of the park.  Hopefully, Banff National Park will turn back into a land of wilderness for the future generations to enjoy. 

Bibliography:  http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ab/banff/visit/visit6_e.asp (Parks Canada)

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