Latest news with #bearattack
The Independent
7 hours ago
- The Independent
How a couple survived a ‘defensive' grizzly bear attack
A woman saved her husband from a grizzly bear attack on a Canadian trail by effectively using bear spray. The incident took place on Saturday while the couple was e-biking along the Kootenay River in British Columbia. The husband sustained significant injuries and was taken to the hospital for surgery following the encounter. Officials determined the attack was 'defensive in nature', likely occurring because the couple startled two bears in thick brush. Authorities decided not to capture or dispatch the bears, but advised others in bear country to carry and know how to use bear spray. Woman uses bear spray to save husband's life in Canada grizzly attack
The Independent
19 hours ago
- The Independent
Woman uses bear spray to save husband's life in Canada grizzly attack
A woman used bear spray to save her husband's life in a grizzly bear attack on a Canadian trail. On Saturday, the couple was e-biking along the Kootenay River when they encountered two grizzly bears, according to British Columbia's Conservation Officer Service. The woman had heard her husband scream and then saw a grizzly bear running at her, officials say. 'She used bear spray and then noticed a second grizzly bear attacking her husband. She again used bear spray and both bears ran off,' the Conservation Officer Service wrote in a Facebook post last Sunday. The man was left with 'significant injuries' and taken to a hospital for surgery, according to officials. Officials swept the area twice but no bears were seen. Three major trails in the area were closed off and traps were set. In a follow-up post Monday, the Conservation Officer Service found the grizzly bear attack was 'defensive in nature.' They said the couple 'likely startled the two bears in a surprise encounter on a corner of the trail, which is bordered by thick brush.' Officials found no evidence the bears were stalking or hunting the couple, leading officials to choose not to 'capture or dispatch the bears.' The trails remained closed 'as a precautionary measure' at the time of the follow-up post. 'These people were well-prepared. They had bear spray, had it readily accessible, and knew how to use it,' Conservation Officer Service Inspector Dave Webster said in the follow-up post. 'We'd like to recognize these actions and encourage anyone hiking, biking or recreating in bear country to take similar precautions.' The National Park Service says bear attacks are rare, but warns to take precautions by distancing yourself from the animals. If you are attacked by a grizzly bear, the service says to 'play dead.' 'Lay flat on your stomach with your hands clasped behind your neck. Spread your legs to make it harder for the bear to turn you over,' the service writes on its website. If the bear continues to attack, the service advises you to fight back. 'Use whatever you have at hand to hit the bear in the face,' the service writes.
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Yahoo
Woman saves husband's life with bear spray during grizzly attack in wilderness
A husband and wife's leisurely bike ride along a Canadian trail took a terrifying turn over the weekend when they spooked two grizzly bears, causing them to attack. Local authorities said quick thinking by the woman likely saved both their lives as she used bear spray to drive the animals away. The incident happened around 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 26, while the couple was riding e-bikes near the Kootenay River. According to the British Columbia Conservation Officer Service (COS), the bears attacked after being surprised. The woman told authorities she heard her husband yell before seeing a bear charge toward her. As she reached for her bear spray, she noticed another grizzly attacking her husband. She deployed the spray again, successfully driving both bears away. Police Officials Host 'Bear Drills' Following String Of Bear Attacks Officials said the man suffered serious injuries and was transported by emergency responders to a hospital, where he underwent surgery. He is expected to recover. Read On The Fox News App "The couple was well-prepared," said COS Inspector Dave Webster in a Facebook post. "They had bear spray, kept it accessible, and knew how to use it. Their actions were commendable, and we urge anyone in bear country to take similar precautions." Following the attack, officers interviewed the victims, inspected the scene and consulted a carnivore expert, who concluded that the bears were likely acting defensively. Police Officials Host 'Bear Drills' Following String Of Bear Attacks In a statement released two days after the encounter, the COS confirmed that the bears' behavior appeared to be a defensive response and that the couple had likely caught the animals off guard in a dense section of the trail. There were no indications that the bears had been tracking or hunting the pair, and no recent signs of bear aggression had been reported in the area. Alaska Hiker Mauled By Bear Rescued With Help Of Advanced Drone Technology On Remote Trail Officers searched the area that day but found no sign of the bears. Authorities closed three main trails and set traps, though no animals were captured. A follow-up search the next day also resulted in no sightings. Security Footage Shows Dog's Dramatic Showdown With Full-sized Bear Inside California Home Because the bears appeared to be acting in self-defense, wildlife officials decided not to pursue or relocate them. Officials emphasized that bear spray is a proven, effective deterrent against bear attacks. "Like a seat belt, it should be considered essential safety equipment when traveling in wildlife country," the organization shared in a resource guide on their article source: Woman saves husband's life with bear spray during grizzly attack in wilderness
Fox News
a day ago
- Fox News
Woman saves husband's life with bear spray during grizzly attack in wilderness
A husband and wife's leisurely bike ride along a Canadian trail took a terrifying turn over the weekend when they spooked two grizzly bears, causing them to attack. Local authorities said quick thinking by the woman likely saved both their lives as she used bear spray to drive the animals away. The incident happened around 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 26, while the couple was riding e-bikes near the Kootenay River. According to the British Columbia Conservation Officer Service (COS), the bears attacked after being surprised. The woman told authorities she heard her husband yell before seeing a bear charge toward her. As she reached for her bear spray, she noticed another grizzly attacking her husband. She deployed the spray again, successfully driving both bears away. Officials said the man suffered serious injuries and was transported by emergency responders to a hospital, where he underwent surgery. He is expected to recover. "The couple was well-prepared," said COS Inspector Dave Webster in a Facebook post. "They had bear spray, kept it accessible, and knew how to use it. Their actions were commendable, and we urge anyone in bear country to take similar precautions." Following the attack, officers interviewed the victims, inspected the scene and consulted a carnivore expert, who concluded that the bears were likely acting defensively. In a statement released two days after the encounter, the COS confirmed that the bears' behavior appeared to be a defensive response and that the couple had likely caught the animals off guard in a dense section of the trail. There were no indications that the bears had been tracking or hunting the pair, and no recent signs of bear aggression had been reported in the area. Officers searched the area that day but found no sign of the bears. Authorities closed three main trails and set traps, though no animals were captured. A follow-up search the next day also resulted in no sightings. Because the bears appeared to be acting in self-defense, wildlife officials decided not to pursue or relocate them. Officials emphasized that bear spray is a proven, effective deterrent against bear attacks. "Like a seat belt, it should be considered essential safety equipment when traveling in wildlife country," the organization shared in a resource guide on their website. Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, illegal immigration, and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Man hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after grizzly bear attack in B.C.
A man has been hospitalized with injuries following a grizzly bear attack near Creston, B.C., said B.C. Conservation Service officers, who later determined the animal's behaviour was defensive in nature. The B.C. Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) said in a social media post that the attack happened around 4:30 p.m. Saturday when a husband and wife were riding e-bikes along the Kootenay River near West Creston in southeast B.C. The service said the wife heard her husband scream and saw a grizzly bear running at her. She used bear spray and then realized a second bear was attacking her husband. The wife used bear spray again, and both bears ran off, according to the BCCOS. "Emergency services were called, and the man was transported to hospital in Cranbrook by ambulance, where he underwent surgery," the BCCOS said. RCMP said in a separate statement that the attack happened in the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area. Investigators believe the bears are two to three years old and are known to have been in the area over the last few years. According to police, the two victims were riding their bikes along the park's dike system, near a bat hut, when they were attacked. "The preparedness in this case by way of ready access and use of bear spray may prove to have been a life-saving measure," said Creston RCMP Staff Sgt. Brandon Buliziuk in the statement, reminding hikers to be prepared to encounter predators in the wild. A wildlife co-existence coordinator in the area said on Monday that it's possible the e-bikers came upon the bears too quickly and weren't making enough noise to herald their coming. "Unfortunately, startling a bear is, you know, one of the things that these conflicts arise as a result of," said Dee Howard with Creston Valley Wildlife. Sgt. Ben Beetlestone with the BCCOS confirmed to CBC News on Monday that the two cyclists encountered the bears on a blind corner in a trail that was thick with bushes. "They were very well prepared with their bear spray for an encounter with bears," he said. "[The wife] was very brave, as she was able to have the foresight to call 911 right away and get an ambulance rolling there." The BCCOS says conservation officers swept the area after the attack and didn't locate the bears. They closed three major trails in the area, installed signage and set up traps on Saturday night, but no bears were captured. On Monday, the BCCOS said in a post it determined that the attack was defensive in nature and there was no evidence to suggest the bear had been stalking or hunting the couple. It said officers interviewed the couple, assessed the attack site and consulted with a regional large carnivore specialist. "Due to the defensive nature of the attack, there are no efforts being taken to capture or dispatch the bears at this time," it said. The BCCOS initially called the man's injuries significant, while the RCMP called them life-threatening. On Monday, the BCCOS said the victim underwent surgery and is expected to recover. Creston Mayor Arnold DeBoon, a former conservation officer, told CBC News that there have been concerted efforts over the last few decades to restore grizzly bears in the Creston Valley. "Over the years, they certainly have increased in numbers in the Creston Valley itself," he said. "Because it's agricultural land, these grizzlies have made a home down in the valley and feed quite nicely on silage corn in late summer, and they've certainly tried to get at cherry orchards and other orchards here." DeBoon said it was the third grizzly attack he was aware of in the area in the last few years, but the two previous ones didn't result in life-threatening injuries. "It's something we worry about because we do have fairly thick cover in places in the valley," he said. "I'm sure there have been many times people have walked by grizzly bears and they're in thick cover." Violent Grizzly bear attacks in B.C. are rare, but human conflict with the animals is not. Reports of problems to the BCCOS vary each year, but there are hundreds of calls, on average, close to 800 per year. DeBoon advised people in the backcountry to be on the lookout for telltale signs of bear activity, like bear poop, scratch marks and overturned rocks. "When you're focused on something that you enjoy, you're not always thinking about what the risk factor is ... and again, there are probably a lot of people here that aren't aware of the number of grizzlies that do live quietly in our valley," the mayor said.
