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(UPDATE: Oct. 4 @ 1:20 pm) – The BC Conservation Officer Service has provided more details about an investigation into a bear attack incident that left three people injured in Dawson Creek Monday night.
According to the agency, a family of four were hiking through the Nordic Ski Trail system south of Dawson Creek when they encountered a black bear that charged them.
The COS explains that they turned to run and the bear chased after them. One woman was attacked by the bear while another woman and teenage boy were injured while trying to help.
One victim was airlifted to a hospital in Edmonton, where she remains. Her condition is not known at this time.
The other two victims were taken to the hospital in Dawson Creek.
Conservation officers remain on site today and the investigation continues.
Fortunately, no other bears have been observed in the area which has been shut down to the public.
A necropsy will be conducted on the adult male bear later today.
The COS explains that they will provide updates as more information becomes available.
(Original story: Oct. 4 @ 11:16 am) – Mounties in northern BC are reminding the public to be “bear aware” after two women were seriously injured in a bear attack Monday night.
Just before 7 pm, police in Dawson Creek received a report of a bear attack at the Bear Mountain Cross Country Ski Club trails, which is just south of the community.
Two victims aged 30 and 48-year-old were reportedly under attack and unaccounted for.
Officers attended the scene with paramedics in tow and immediately broke into teams to search the 23 kilometre trail network.
At about 8 pm, two officers on UTV located the women lying in the bush. Both were critically injured.
Officers observed a large male black bear circling nearby and made attempts to scare the bear off.
However, the animal would not leave and RCMP officers believed the bear was guarding the victims. The officers shot the bear and killed it.
Both victims were quickly secured and transported off the trail network before being medevaced to a nearby hospital to treat their serious life-threatening injuries.
As of Tuesday morning, both victims remain alive.
Mounties want to remind the public to be “bear-aware” when in the backcountry.
“Noise makers such as bells can alert bears to your presence and decrease the likelihood of scaring a bear and provoking an attack. Always carry bear spray and travel in groups,” explain the Dawson Creek RCMP.
“Avoid hiking on trails in the backcountry during sunrise and sunset, which is when most animals will be most active.” The Dawson Creek RCMP thanked the paramedics, conservation officers and search and rescue team that helped locate and rescue the two women.
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