Latest news with #trailclosure
CTV News
9 hours ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Trails in Fredericton, Saint John closing in response to provincewide fire ban
Odell Park in Fredericton is pictured in an undated photo. (Source: City of Fredericton) In response to the Government of New Brunswick's announcement of an extreme wildfire hazard and the closure of all Crown lands, the cities of Fredericton and Saint John are taking steps to support wildfire prevention. In a news release, the City of Fredericton said it is placing restrictions on trail use at Odell and Killarney Lake parks. 'All trails at Odell and Killarney Lake Park are closed,' states the release. 'The closure does not apply to the beach and lake at Killarney Lake.' The city says all other trails remain open at this time, but the Fredericton Fire Department will continue to monitor conditions and adjust as required. The Fredericton Police Force will also continue to visit known encampment areas to reinforce the importance of the fire ban, says the release. Saint John The City of Saint John says it will be closing all walking and biking trails at Rockwood Park, Tucker Park and Little River Reservoir in response to the provincial burn ban, effective at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 11. 'We understand that this may not be the news some residents want to hear, and we realize it is the height of enjoying summer activities and being outdoors. Our region, and the province, are under the threat of wildfires due to severe dry conditions and keeping our residents, communities, parks, wetlands, and recreational areas safe are most important,' stated the city in a Sunday news release. As an alternative to visiting wooded areas, the city is encouraging residents to head to one of the beaches around Saint John, walk along Harbour Passage or visit one of the splashpads. According to the release, city officials will also be working closely with front-line agencies to ensure encampment residents stay safe and are made aware of the situation. For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
CBS News
01-08-2025
- General
- CBS News
Colorado town closes popular trail for bear stuck in tree, advocates concerned about habitat loss
A popular trail in the Colorado town of Silverton had to be closed temporarily today after a bear became stuck in a tree. For a few hours Thursday morning, the Blue River Trail was closed after a walker let police know a black bear was perched up in a tree, directly above the path itself, near city hall. While Gail Marshall, a BearWise Volunteer, was able to help get the bear out of the tree, the bear eventually ran across the Blue River and back up another tree. Since it was no longer near the path, police reopened it to the public. Still, Marshall sat and waited, asking people walking their dogs and on bikes to go around the area so as to give the bear space to exit the tree, and make its way back home. She's partially motivated to help the bear so the alternative outcome doesn't come to pass. "You get to get tagged once (as a bear)," Marshall said. "The second time they're caught, they do get euthanized. If they're caught in a house with a person, they're automatically euthanized up in the mountains. We don't like to do that. We like to let them make their own decisions." Considering Silverthrone has plenty of overlapping locations that include the White River National Forest, it's both a bear and human habitat. Marshall said it's becoming a challenge as more and more construction pushes into the wilderness, where the bears live. "It's becoming encroached upon, and there's less space for them," said Marshall. Colorado Parks and Wildlife reported an increase in human-bear conflicts in 2024. They said it's important to remember to keep garbage secure, close your garage and not to leave food sources outside. As for how long she'd stand there, guaring the bear until it comes down, Marshall said as long as it takes. She said she's done hours-long stints before. "The head of the district called me and goes, 'You're still there?'. And I go, 'Yeah, you haven't told me I could stand down,'" Marshall recalled. "He started laughing, and one of the officers said, 'Yeah, she gets a little dedicated.'"
CBC
29-07-2025
- CBC
B.C. couple survives grizzly bear attack
A popular riverside trail is currently closed after a couple riding e-bikes near Creston, B.C., were attacked by two grizzlies over the weekend, leaving the man with significant injuries.
Irish Times
21-07-2025
- Irish Times
Cliffs of Moher visitors risking their lives by breaking into closed sections of cliff-edge walk
Tourists at the Cliffs of Moher are breaking walls and climbing protective fences to access sections of a dangerous cliff-edge trail which have been closed since last August following two deaths. Large stretches of the Cliffs of Moher Walking Trail were closed when a Sport Ireland audit highlighted significant safety issues on the 19km route in Co Clare. The route, which normally attracts 400,000 visitors annually, is owned by 36 local farmers and is bisected by the Cliffs of Moher Visitors' Experience, which is owned and operated by Clare County Council. Clare Local Development Company chief executive Dóirín Graham said managing a partly closed trail with significant safety hazards was proving challenging. READ MORE 'People still climb over fences, people pull down fences and walls, so we are constantly trying to repair fences and remind people that they should not be on that section of the trail,' she said. 'Thankfully there has been no incidents so far. Because of the nature of the trail, people can walk across [private] land and access the trail at many different points. 'People might have travelled a distance to see the cliffs and don't want to listen. People can still see them, there are still good sections of the cliffs visible, through the visitors' centre, that people can see. People can still get that cliffs experience.' She said the Department of Rural and Community Development had supported the CLDC with funding to put someone in place to manage the trail on a part-time basis, 'but he can't stop people climbing over fences. There is an amount of that going on'. Since its development in 2012, the trail has been managed by CLDC under the national walks scheme, with farmers receiving a small payment for access to their land. CLDC is managing the closed and the open sections of the route, but this responsibility will transfer to the county council on September 1st. Following a review of the management plan for the trail, which was instigated before two people died in accidents there last year, it was decided that the council would take over as its management agency. The local authority has been in negotiations with farmers and Clare IFA for several months, with no agreement yet reached about the future of the grade-five difficulty walk. The council has erected barriers and warning signs where the Cliffs of Moher Experience interacts with the closed trail, but has confirmed regular incursions take place. 'There is evidence of regular breaches of the barrier on the closed section on the northern side of the trail. There are local penetrations of the trail on the southern side which are equally being monitored and managed by CLDC,' a council spokesperson said. The closed sections of the trail cannot be reopened until significant safety works are undertaken, with the southern half of the trail unlikely to be fully reopened for years. The area is a nesting ground for protected birds and is a Special Area of Conservation, meaning work can only take place during the winter months. No work can be started, however, until an agreement is reached between the council and landowners. 'Talks are progressing with the landowners and landowner representatives on the northern section of the Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walk with a view to spending approved ORIS [Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme] funding,' the council spokesperson said. Local farmers will shortly receive their last payment under the national walks scheme, and will not receive any further payments until an agreement is reached with the local authority. 'The landowners are very committed to keeping the Cliffs of Moher Walking Trail open,' Tom Lane of Clare IFA said. 'We are fully aware of the benefits in kind to Clare tourism and the important role it plays in the overall national tourism industry.' Despite these challenges and the bad weather, thousands of tourists walked sections of the trail last weekend, with several making their way into the closed sections. Ollie Gleeson has been running guided walks on the trail for the past five years and employs 12 people. 'It is operationally very difficult. We are able to keep going, but it is a challenge,' he said. 'This trail brought connectivity from one of Ireland's busiest tourists attractions to two local villages [Doolin and Liscannor]. The amount of money that the trail has brought to local villages has been massive. 'When it is open, it does something massive for Doolin, Liscannor, Lisdoonvarna and Ballyvaughan. The trail isn't just about the guides, it is a massive part of the local economy.' In early May last year, a Belgian medical student fell from the 700ft cliffs while she was walking with a group. More than two months later a Chinese boy, who was in Ireland with his parents, also fell to his death from the trail.
