A white female grizzly bear affectionately known as “Nakoda” (official name: Bear 178) has died in a road accident in Yoho National Park, British Columbia.
According to Parks Canada, which manages Canadian National Parks, the accident occurred on June 6th. Nakoda was frightened by a train and ran onto the road near the Lake O’Hara exit on the Trans-Canada Highway, a highway that crosses Canada.
The first of two cars on the road was able to avoid it, but the second car behind it was unable to stop in time and collided with Nakoda. After the accident, Nakoda was seen by officials climbing a fence on the highway and limping off the road. Because wild bears often recover from serious injuries, officials decided to continue monitoring Nakoda. However, on June 8, Nakoda’s GPS collar sent a signal, and he was confirmed dead.
Nakoda had two calves, but they were killed in a separate traffic accident on June 6th prior to Nakoda’s accident. According to Parks Canada, Nakoda often came out to roadside potholes to eat dandelions. Because of this, he had a lot of contact with humans and had become “too used” to being on the side of the road.
“Bears that become habituated to people often have negative consequences,” the agency said, advising people visiting national parks not to stop watching wildlife, to drive carefully, and to obey the speed limit.