Grizzly bear hit by truck, killed near Jasper; cub orphaned

A female grizzly bear has died, leaving behind a cub, after it was hit by a commercial transport truck early Friday morning.

According to Parks Canada, the bear was hit around midnight on Highway 16, about five kilometers east of Jasper.

The truck driver reported the incident to Parks Canada right after and stayed at the scene until help arrived.

The orphaned bear cub was found Friday morning. Parks Canada says it will be monitoring the cub in the coming days.

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Parks Canada says in circumstances like these, staff will do what they can to keep the cub in its home area, noting that removing wildlife from their natural habitat can have long-term repercussions on “overall future bear populations and their viability.”

Drivers are reminded to be careful in mountain areas and to watch for wildlife. If you see wildlife near the roadway, you’re asked to slow down and drive carefully around the animal.

–With files from Camae Marayag