Woman uses bear spray to save husband from grizzly attack in Canada
A married couple that was e-biking along a Canadian trail startled two bears that attacked them over the weekend, requiring one person to undergo surgery, according to local officials.
The incident occurred around 4:30 p.m. local time on Saturday, July 26, as the husband and wife were e-biking along the Kootenay River when two grizzly bears attacked them, according to information shared by the Conservation Officer Service (COS) in British Columbia.
Officers interviewed the couple, assessed the area and spoke to a carnivore specialist, who stated the bears likely acted in self-defense.
Two days after the ordeal, the Conservation Officer Service said the bears' reaction "was defensive in nature," and the couple likely surprised the animals at the corner of the trail, which has thick brush around it.
The service found no evidence that the bears were stalking or hunting the couple, and there have been no recent reports of bear activity or aggressive bear behavior in the area before the attack.
"These people were well-prepared," COS Insp. Dave Webster said in a Facebook post. "They had bear spray, had it readily accessible, and knew how to use it. We'd like to recognize these actions and encourage anyone hiking, biking or recreating in bear country to take similar precautions."
What happened that day?
The woman told officials she heard her husband scream, then she saw a grizzly bear running toward her. As she grabbed her bear spray, she noticed a second bear attacking her husband.
"She again used bear spray and both bears ran off," Webster wrote, noting that the husband suffered "significant injuries." He is expected to recover, the service later said.
The couple called for help, and once emergency services arrived, the husband was taken to a hospital where he underwent surgery.
That day, officers swept the area but found no bears, and three major trails in the area were closed off with signs added.
Officials also set traps, although no bears were captured. The following day, officers searched the area and found no bears. Trails remained closed, they said.
Due to the bears acting in self-defense, the service will not capture the animals.
The trails were closed as of July 28. USA TODAY contacted officials on Wednesday, July 30, about the reopening of the trails, but did not receive an immeidate response.
What to do if you encounter a bear
It's possible to run into bears along busy trails close to town or in the remote backcountry, according to Parks Canada. Parks Canada said situations in which bears stalk or hunt humans along a trail are rare. While bears try to avoid people, interactions do occur.
Some ways to avoid bear encounters include:
And if, by chance, you encounter a bear anyway, Parks Canada said some best practices include:
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.
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