Last September, a wolf got into garbage that Banff visitors left unattended at Two Jack Lakeside Campground – and several months later, a court decided that was worth $350.
The matter was heard at Canmore's Alberta Court of Justice in December, following charges laid under the Canada National Parks Act. The Crown prosecutor had asked for $400. The court landed on $350. The wolf, for its part, has not commented.
The Morning a Wolf Walked Through Two Jack
On the morning of 3 September 2025, Parks Canada received reports of a wolf moving through Two Jack Lakeside Campground – one of Banff's busier sites, sitting just outside the townsite on the road to Lake Minnewanka.
Staff investigated, found that the wolf had accessed garbage left unattended at a campsite, and issued a wolf warning for the area. The warning was later lifted after no further activity was reported.
Tomi Postma, public relations and communications officer for Banff National Park, confirmed the sequence of events and noted the fine that followed: “The Crown prosecutor requested a $400 fine; the court ultimately decided to impose a $350 fine.”
Why This Is Not a Small Thing
Wolves in the Bow Valley have always had it difficult. The corridor through Banff National Park – which receives more than 4.2 million visitors a year – puts them in near-constant contact with roads, railways, and people who occasionally leave food out. That combination has proven fatal before.
In 2016, two female wolves were killed for public safety reasons after they became conditioned to human food and began approaching people at a campground. It is the standard endpoint for a wolf that learns to associate campsites with an easy meal – and it is entirely preventable.
The Bow Valley wolf pack numbers around nine animals currently. Terry Larsen, a resource management officer specialising in human-wildlife conflict, offered a measured assessment in a recent interview: “The wolf situation has been pretty good this year.” That is, in Parks Canada's terms, high praise.
What the Rules Actually Require
Parks Canada's position is straightforward: never leave food, drinks, or scented items unattended for any amount of time. If a wolf or bear appears, put everything away immediately – not after finishing your coffee, not after taking a photo.
Most campgrounds in Banff National Park open between May and June. Tunnel Mountain Village II is the exception, running year-round. Wherever you're camping, the rules are the same.
Human-wildlife interaction reports in Banff totalled 2,713 in 2025 – down slightly from 2,940 in 2024, but a reminder that the park's wildlife is present, paying attention, and occasionally very interested in what you've left on the picnic table.
To report carnivore sightings or unattended food and garbage, contact Banff Dispatch at 403-762-1470. For guidance on keeping a clean campsite, Parks Canada has a dedicated page worth reading before you arrive.
The $350 fine is the kind of thing that gets people's attention. The wolf was presumably just hungry.