A woman who recorded a widely-shared video of her dog off-leash near a grizzly bear was fined $1,500 after admitting guilt in Canmore Court of Justice on Wednesday. Brook Koski faced charges related to having her dog off-leash on a trail in Banff National Park.
The video, approximately 90 seconds long, captured the moment when Koski’s husband, Kraig, stood near Grizzly Bear 142 with bear spray, instructing the bear to back off. The footage, which garnered millions of views on TikTok, showed their off-leash dog running between them as the grizzly bear walked alongside the trail without displaying any signs of aggression.
Expressing regret in court, Brook Koski tearfully apologized for her lapse in judgment, acknowledging that they have learned from the incident. Isaak Hurst, Koski’s lawyer, mentioned that Koski was distressed during the encounter, emphasizing their respect for Canadian nature and wildlife. He defended their actions, highlighting the composed behavior of Koski’s husband and the overall handling of the situation with the grizzly bear.
Caroline Lirette, the Crown attorney, described the encounter as terrifying and stressed the importance of keeping dogs on-leash to prevent negative bear interactions. She emphasized the need for visitors to adhere to park rules and coexist harmoniously with wildlife, labeling the incident as a judgment error.
The court proceedings revealed that three individuals on the trail reported the off-leash dog to park wardens on July 19. Following the discovery of the video on Koski’s social media accounts, the couple voluntarily visited the park office, where Koski admitted to having both dogs off-leash during the hike.
Justice Indra Maharaj acknowledged Koski’s genuine remorse but highlighted the unpredictable nature of animals, pointing out the potential risks associated with such encounters. Maharaj emphasized the significance of leash laws in ensuring the safety of hikers and wildlife, urging visitors to comply with these regulations for their own safety.
Parks Canada mandates that dogs must be on a leash at all times within national parks. Giuliana Eljuri, a communications officer for the Banff field unit, advised visitors to consider leaving their dogs at home when engaging in outdoor activities and to check for trail restrictions before visiting national parks to uphold wildlife protection laws. Eljuri emphasized the legal implications of disturbing wildlife in national parks, including allowing off-leash dogs to chase wildlife.
Overall, the incident served as a cautionary tale, underscoring the importance of responsible behavior around wildlife and the necessity for park visitors to follow established regulations for a safe and enjoyable experience in national parks.
