A hunter was attacked by a grizzly bear south of Cochrane, Alta., on Thursday afternoon, according to Alberta Fish and Wildlife.
“The bear involved in the attack was shot by the survivor’s hunting partner and is believed to be deceased,” provincial spokesperson Sheena Campbell said in a statement. “A second bear, of unknown age, fled the scene after the encounter.”
STARS Air Ambulance told CBC News that a man in his 30s had been airlifted from Springbank arealocated immediately west of Calgary.
The air ambulance service did not confirm the man’s condition, although Alberta Fish and Wildlife said he survived.
Grizzly attacks on hunters happen too often, bear safety expert says
“We see this every hunting season,” said Bear Safety and More founder Kim Titchener.
“Every hunting season, whether here in Canada or the United States, we have multiple cases of people being mauled while hunting.”
Earlier this month, a moose hunter fought off a grizzly bear that attacked him in the East Kootenay region of British Columbia. He succumbed to his injuries weeks after the attack.
CBC’s Dan Burritt tells us about Joe Pendry, who used his experience as a boxer to fight for his life when a mother grizzly bear attacked and seriously injured him in the East Kootenay region of BC earlier this month.
“We need to change our behaviors and try to do the best we can to make it as safe as possible when we go out hunting, biking, trail running or camping with our friends and family,” Titchener said.
He said hunters move through the wilderness incredibly quietly, which may be a factor behind surprise encounters with bears.
“It’s common to accidentally call out a carnivore when you make noises that sound like a prey species,” he said. “This is going to attract them.”
The bears are expected to go into hibernation in the coming weeks, but are still active on the landscape.
“The grizzly bears are still trying to find what’s left of vegetation to feed on,” Titchener said. “They’re still trying to put on weight for the winter.”
A massive grizzly bear came face to face with hikers on Banff’s popular Johnston Canyon trail on Tuesday. (Photo credit: Buck Goroski)
The attack’s proximity to Calgary is not unheard of, Titchener said. He noted two fatal bear attacks in Mountain View County, northwest of the city.
“Historically, grizzly bears were widespread across Alberta and the prairie environment,” he said. “It’s bear country, and in some cases, bears are returning to the habitat they once lived in.”
Alberta Fish and Wildlife would not confirm any details about the second bear that fled the scene, although Titchener said the two bears were most likely a mother-cub pair.
“Fish and Wildlife officers will collect DNA samples from the survivor to confirm that the bear shot in the encounter was the attacking bear,” Campbell said in his statement.
