Leashes save lives
Keep pets and wildlife safe
Leashes save lives. Keeping your dog on leash protects you, your dog, and wildlife.
We live and play in a wild place, and it takes extra responsibility to make sure we can coexist with wildlife. Show you care about wildlife, pets, and other people by keeping your dog on leash.
Off-leash dogs are one of the most common causes of wildlife attacks on people and pets. An off-leash dog may bring back an agitated wild animal, like a bear or cougar, towards you in pursuit of your dog.
Bears: You might be bear aware, but your dog isn’t. Dogs can cause bears to feel threatened and increase the risk of a dangerous encounter. A dog may also be considered food for a bear. A dog running loose may bring back an agitated animal to the dog owner or other people nearby. Humans, especially children are at risk of injury or death.
A bear made aggressive by a roaming dog may have to be relocated away from its home or even killed to prevent future attacks.
Cougars: Although normally reclusive, a cougar may consider a dog an easy meal. A wandering dog is no match for the speed of a cougar, also called a mountain lion. Again, a dog may harass a cougar and run back to their owner, bringing the cougar along for a dangerous encounter.
Deer, elk, squirrels, birds: all animals are at risk from harassment of a dog off leash. In this region, it is illegal to allow a dog to chase or aggravate a wild animal, no matter how small.
Consider leaving your dog at home when out on the trails for your safety and theirs.
It’s the law
If your dog is off leash outside of designated areas, you may be charged and face fines.
It is illegal to have your dog off-leash in Banff, Canmore, the MD of Bighorn hamlets of Harvie Heights, Lac Des Arcs, Dead Man's Flats, Exshaw and throughout Banff National Park and in provincial parks, unless you are in a designated off-leash dog park, or on fenced private property.
Fines for off-leash dogs:
In Banff National Park, the maximum fine for disturbing wildlife is $25,000.
In Canmore the fines for off-leash dogs are $250 - First offence $500 - Second offence $1,000 - Third and subsequent offences; and the fines are even stiffer for dogs harassing wildlife: $750 - First offence $1,500 - Second offence $2,500 - Third and subsequent offences.
In the Town of Banff, the fine for off-leash dogs is $100.
Resources:
“Off-leash dogs are one of the most common causes of wildlife attacks on people and pets.”
