Wife fends off two bears, husband seriously injured in B.C. grizzly attack
A grizzly bear was acting defensively when it mauled a man on an electric bike near Creston on Saturday, according to B.C. Conservation Service investigators.
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As a result, the two bears involved will not be captured, relocated, or killed.
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The encounter unfolded Saturday around 4:40 p.m. in the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area, where the man and his wife were riding on a trail beside the Kootenay River.
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Conservation Officer in charge of the Kootenays, Sgt. Ben Beetlestone, said the pair were 'bear aware' and had horns on their bikes as well as bear spray, but startled the two bears as they came around a corner with heavy brush on either side.
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'They came around the corner and the bears were right there,' Beetlestone said. 'One bear ran past the man but the other one jumped onto the bike and knocked him off and mauled him.'
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The man's wife used bear spray to scare both bears off.
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The man was taken to East Kootenay Regional Hospital in Cranbrook, where he had surgery for significant injuries to his torso and arm. He is expected to recover.
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Beetlestone said the bears were either two juveniles or a sow and an older cub roughly the same size.
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'A lot of grizzly bears use the valley,' he said.
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Beetlestone said there was no evidence to suggest either bear had been stalking or hunting the couple, and there were no reports of bear activity or aggressive bear behaviour in the area prior to the Saturday afternoon attack.
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Conservation officers spoke with the man and his wife and also assessed the surrounding area as part of the investigation. A regional large carnivore specialist was also consulted and agreed that 'the bear's behaviour appeared to be defensive.'
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Because the bears active defensively, there will be no efforts made to capture or relocate the bears.
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Bear expert Michael Procto r said people riding mountain bikes and electric bikes in bear country was an emerging problem in North America.
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'Bikes that are quiet and fast travelling in bear habitat is not a good recipe,' he said.
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Toronto Sun
29-07-2025
- Toronto Sun
Grizzlies that attacked B.C. couple on e-bikes won't be captured or killed
The wife fended off the two grizzlies using bear spray but her husband was mauled and required surgery for his injuries File photo of a grizzly bear Photo by Elaine Thompson / AP A grizzly bear was acting defensively when it mauled a man on an electric bike near Creston on Saturday, according to B.C. Conservation Service investigators. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account As a result, the two bears involved will not be captured, relocated, or killed. The encounter unfolded Saturday around 4:40 p.m. in the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area, where the man and his wife were riding on a trail beside the Kootenay River. Conservation Officer in charge of the Kootenays, Sgt. Ben Beetlestone, said the pair were 'bear aware' and had horns on their bikes as well as bear spray, but startled the two bears as they came around a corner with heavy brush on either side. 'They came around the corner and the bears were right there,' Beetlestone said. 'One bear ran past the man but the other one jumped onto the bike and knocked him off and mauled him.' The man's wife used bear spray to scare both bears off. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The man was taken to East Kootenay Regional Hospital in Cranbrook, where he had surgery for significant injuries to his torso and arm. He is expected to recover. Beetlestone said the bears were either two juveniles or a sow and an older cub roughly the same size. He said grizzly bears used the trail to travel north or south because it allows them to avoid crossing Highway 3. 'A lot of grizzly bears use the valley,' he said. Beetlestone said there was no evidence to suggest either bear had been stalking or hunting the couple, and there were no reports of bear activity or aggressive bear behaviour in the area prior to the Saturday afternoon attack. Conservation officers spoke with the man and his wife and also assessed the surrounding area as part of the investigation. A regional large carnivore specialist was also consulted and agreed that 'the bear's behaviour appeared to be defensive.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Because the bears active defensively, there will be no efforts made to capture or relocate the bears. Bear expert Michael Proctor said people riding mountain bikes and electric bikes in bear country was an emerging problem in North America. 'Bikes that are quiet and fast travelling in bear habitat is not a good recipe,' he said. Proctor added that making noise in bear country remains the best way to keep bears at bay. 'Always make noise, travel in a group. 99.99 per cent of the time the bears will get out of your way,' he said. On Monday, trails near the Corn Creek marsh and the Kootenay-Columbia Discovery Centre within the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area remained closed. Tours and programs at the discovery centre are temporarily unavailable. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area is a 69 square kilometre wildlife habitat along the Kootenay River west of Creston. Meanwhile, another man was attacked by a cougar on Saturday near Smithers, authorities said. The Conservation Officer Service said the cougar approached the man in the Lake Kathlyn area and took a swipe at him. The man, who was slightly injured, later told officers he punched the cougar in the face and it disengaged. The cougar has not been located and a trap has been set up. dcarrigg@ Read More MLB Ontario Toronto & GTA Golf Editorial Cartoons
CBC
29-07-2025
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Wife bear-sprays grizzly bears away near Creston, B.C., husband hospitalized
A man was rushed to hospital badly hurt over the weekend in what conservation officers described as a grizzly attack in the B.C. Kootenays. As CBC's Chad Pawson reports, his wife is credited with driving the animals away with bear spray.
Edmonton Journal
29-07-2025
- Edmonton Journal
Wife fends off two bears, husband seriously injured in B.C. grizzly attack
Article content A grizzly bear was acting defensively when it mauled a man on an electric bike near Creston on Saturday, according to B.C. Conservation Service investigators. Article content As a result, the two bears involved will not be captured, relocated, or killed. Article content Article content The encounter unfolded Saturday around 4:40 p.m. in the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area, where the man and his wife were riding on a trail beside the Kootenay River. Article content Article content Conservation Officer in charge of the Kootenays, Sgt. Ben Beetlestone, said the pair were 'bear aware' and had horns on their bikes as well as bear spray, but startled the two bears as they came around a corner with heavy brush on either side. Article content Article content 'They came around the corner and the bears were right there,' Beetlestone said. 'One bear ran past the man but the other one jumped onto the bike and knocked him off and mauled him.' Article content The man's wife used bear spray to scare both bears off. Article content The man was taken to East Kootenay Regional Hospital in Cranbrook, where he had surgery for significant injuries to his torso and arm. He is expected to recover. Article content Beetlestone said the bears were either two juveniles or a sow and an older cub roughly the same size. Article content Article content 'A lot of grizzly bears use the valley,' he said. Article content Article content Beetlestone said there was no evidence to suggest either bear had been stalking or hunting the couple, and there were no reports of bear activity or aggressive bear behaviour in the area prior to the Saturday afternoon attack. Article content Conservation officers spoke with the man and his wife and also assessed the surrounding area as part of the investigation. A regional large carnivore specialist was also consulted and agreed that 'the bear's behaviour appeared to be defensive.' Article content Because the bears active defensively, there will be no efforts made to capture or relocate the bears. Article content Bear expert Michael Procto r said people riding mountain bikes and electric bikes in bear country was an emerging problem in North America. Article content 'Bikes that are quiet and fast travelling in bear habitat is not a good recipe,' he said.
