A 36-year-old British Columbia man suffered significant injuries during a grizzly bear attack that occurred as he and his father tracked a black bear with dogs.
According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Sparwood resident suffered “numerous injuries, broken bones and lacerations to his body during the attack,” which occurred May 16 south of Elkford.
“The man was able to defend himself with his firearm and the bear ran off,” the RCMP continued Monday in a news release. “The other man, his father, called for help.”
The incident occurred in rugged terrain on a steep mountainside. Several agencies participated in the rescue of the man, who was airlifted to Calgary Foothills Hospital and listed in stable condition.
A Conservation Officer team later found the adult grizzly bear dead in the same area.
The spring black bear hunting season in British Columbia runs through June 30. Grizzly bear hunting is banned in the province.
–Generic grizzly bear image courtesy of ©Pete Thomas