CONSERVATION OFFICERS are warning people not to stop or get out of their vehicles when spotting wild animals they spot along side of the road.
The warning follows reports of vehicles stopping to observe a kermode bear last week on Hwy16 east of Terrace.
"People are obviously getting way too close, not giving the animal an avenue of escape and conditioning the animal to human presence as well as creating the potential for a motor vehicle accident or collision," reports Terrace-based conservation officer Gareth Scrivner.
Although Scrivner said the animal which drew attention will move to a new food source once its current one is depleted, it's important not to interfere with its activities.
"But in the mean time this kind of behaviour obviously puts people's safety at risk as well as increasing the likelihood that the animal will lose some of its wild natural behaviour, especially if people are foolish enough to feed it," he said.
"We are interested in receiving information of irresponsible behaviour along with a licence plate to the RAPP 1-877-952-7277," Scrivner added.