An individual hunting in the vicinity south of Cochrane, Alberta, was attacked by a grizzly bear on Thursday afternoon, as reported by Alberta Fish and Wildlife. The survivor’s hunting companion shot the bear believed to be involved in the attack, resulting in its demise, while another bear, of unknown age, fled the scene following the incident.
CBC News was informed by STARS air ambulance that a man in his thirties was airlifted from the Springbank area, situated west of Calgary.
Although the air ambulance service did not disclose the man’s condition, Alberta Fish and Wildlife stated that he survived. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) confirmed on Friday that the man’s condition had improved to non-life-threatening, although he was initially in serious condition upon hospital admission.
Bear safety expert highlights frequent grizzly attacks on hunters
Kim Titchener, the founder of Bear Safety and More, emphasized the recurring occurrence of grizzly bear attacks on hunters during hunting seasons in both Canada and the United States.
Recently, an elk hunter in British Columbia’s East Kootenay region successfully defended himself against a grizzly bear attack. However, he later succumbed to his injuries sustained during the encounter.
Titchener advocated for a change in behaviors to enhance safety while engaging in outdoor activities like hunting, biking, trail running, or camping with family and friends. She noted that hunters’ silent movements in the wilderness could lead to unexpected bear encounters.
As the hibernation period approaches, bears are still active in search of vegetation to consume and fatten up for the winter season, Titchener mentioned.
The close proximity of the bear mauling incident to Calgary, according to Titchener, is not uncommon, citing past fatal bear attacks in Mountain View County northwest of the city. She explained that historically, grizzly bears inhabited Alberta and the prairie environment, indicating that bears are gradually returning to their former habitats.
While Alberta Fish and Wildlife did not provide specifics about the second bear that fled the scene, Titchener speculated that the two bears were likely a mother and cub pair. She mentioned that Fish and Wildlife officers would gather DNA samples from the survivor to confirm the identity of the bear involved in the attack.