Parks Canada keeps Long Beach dog ban to Green Point Rocks — Chek News
chek news: Parks Canada said the dog ban along part of Long Beach near Tofino will remain in effect for the foreseeable future because of wolf encounters. The restriction covers the area from the south boundary to Green Point Rocks, with pets required to stay leashed where dogs are still allowed.
Parks Canada tied the decision to temporary dog bans in the Long Beach Unit of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve and said human-wolf interactions have increased over the past year in and around the area. A wolf warning has been active there since September 2025, and the agency said the current rules are meant to reduce harm to people, pets and wolves.
Long Beach restrictions
On Feb. 11, Parks Canada put a dog ban in place for part of Long Beach. Two days later, the dog prohibition area expanded after a report of a wolf attacking a dog on Willowbrae Trail. This week, Parks Canada said the ban would stay in place for the foreseeable future.
The agency said a wolf warning remains in effect, along with area closures for the former Goldmine Trail and Wickaninnish Dunes. It also said pets must be leashed at all times in areas where dogs are still allowed.
Hetu and Bruhwiler
Dennis Hetu of the Toquaht Nation said it was important to give the wolves their space. He said, “I think the importance to coexist with the wolves is just to lessen the amount of interactions, because every time somebody or something interacts with these wolves it shifts the balance, their balance, and when that balance is shifted it puts their lives in jeopardy.”
Francis Bruhwiler, with the national park reserve, said, “Our opinion here with wolves in particular is that any interaction we have is not a good one” and added, “The ultimate goal is, you would see tracks on the beach and you take photos of those tracks – and that would excite you – but for the wolves’ sake, for them to be seen in the middle of the day out in the open amongst a lot of visitors is really unhealthy.” He finished by saying, “That’s the bottom line.”
Parks Canada rules
Parks Canada said, “Wolves see dogs as competitors and as prey, and off leash dogs significantly increase the risk of serious encounters.” It also told pet owners, “We recognize this means changed routines and we appreciate your cooperation.”
For visitors, the immediate rule is simple: the dog prohibition still applies from the south boundary to Green Point Rocks, the wolf warning stays posted, and leashes are required anywhere dogs remain permitted inside the Long Beach Unit.
