Parks Canada has closed the Chilkoot Trail National Historic Site, from Chilkoot Pass to Bennett, B.C., in response to a bear incident at Lindeman City, and is tracking the animal to kill it.

Parks Canada staff returned to camp at 3:30 p.m. Monday to find that a bear had broken into the Parks Canada patrol cabin and cook shelter through a window.

“The bear damaged a refrigerator and cupboards and obtained a significant food reward,” Parks Canada said Tuesday afternoon.

“The bear was observed in the patrol cabin again at 6:45 p.m. Hair and prints found at the site suggest it is likely a black bear.”

“Due to the significance and degree of reward attained and the hazard posed to public safety by the food-conditioned bear, Parks Canada has decided to dispatch the bear,” said Ben Hayes, thie Skagway-based chief of interpretation and education for the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park.

Parks Canada has taken all hikers off the Canadian side of the trail.

A response team led by Parks Canada, with assistance from Yukon conservation officers, has been deployed.

There have been issues with habituated and food conditioned bears along the South Klondike Highway in recent weeks, Parks Canada said.

“Parks Canada understands the inconvenience this will cause hikers and is working with all those impacted by the closure,” the federal department said.

“The trail will be reopened as soon as it is safe to do so.”

The Bennett area remains open to day-use.

Hikers may still reserve permits for hiking only the U.S. side of the Chilkoot Trail round-trip.

Updates are available at the Parks Canada webpage, www.pc.gc.ca, or by call its offices in Whitehorse at 667-3910 or the Trail Center in Skagway, Alaska at 907-983-9234.