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. Brook Koski faced charges related to having her dog off-leash in Banff National Park. The video, about 90 seconds long, captured the incident and went viral on TikTok, amassing millions of views. In the footage, Koski’s husband, Kraig, was seen with bear spray near Grizzly Bear 142, a known female bear, instructing the bear to stay back. As the grizzly bear peacefully moved away, the couple’s off-leash dog ran between them. Koski expressed remorse in court, acknowledging her error in judgment and stating that they had learned from the incident.
Koski’s lawyer, Isaak Hurst, highlighted that Koski was distressed during the encounter and that it was her first time facing legal action. Hurst emphasized the importance of respecting nature and wildlife, noting the online backlash directed at his client. Despite the off-leash dog not attacking the bear, Hurst commended Koski’s husband for his composed response, describing it as a demonstration of handling a grizzly bear encounter effectively.
Caroline Lirette, the Crown attorney, described the encounter as frightening and underscored the necessity of keeping dogs on-leash in order to prevent negative bear interactions. Lirette stressed the responsibility of park visitors to familiarize themselves with park regulations, labeling the incident as a lapse in judgment. Three individuals on the trail reported the off-leash dog to park authorities, leading to the identification of Koski through her TikTok and Strava accounts. Justice Indra Maharaj emphasized the unpredictability of animal reactions and the importance of leash laws for both human and animal safety, citing the potential risks posed by off-leash dogs in wildlife encounters.
Parks Canada mandates leashes for dogs in national parks, with certain exceptions in designated areas. Giuliana Eljuri, a Banff field unit communications officer, advised individuals engaging in park activities to leave their dogs at home if necessary and to check for trail restrictions before visiting. Eljuri reminded the public of the legal prohibition against disturbing wildlife in national parks, including allowing off-leash dogs to chase animals.