A grizzly bear attacked a hunter south of Cochrane, Alberta, on Thursday afternoon, as reported by Alberta Fish and Wildlife. The survivor’s hunting partner shot the bear involved in the attack, which is believed to be dead, while another bear of unknown age fled the scene.
The man in his 30s was airlifted from the Springbank area, west of Calgary, by STARS air ambulance, according to CBC News. Although the air ambulance service did not disclose the man’s condition, Alberta Fish and Wildlife confirmed that he survived. The man was initially in serious condition but is now in a stable, non-life-threatening state, as per EMS on Friday.
Bear Safety and More founder Kim Titchener highlighted the frequency of grizzly bear attacks on hunters during hunting seasons, emphasizing the need for behavioral changes to enhance safety during outdoor activities. Titchener explained that hunters’ quiet movements in the wilderness might lead to unexpected bear encounters, as the noise can resemble sounds made by prey species, inadvertently attracting carnivores.
Despite the approaching hibernation period for bears, they are currently active on the landscape as they search for remaining vegetation to feed on and fatten up for winter. Titchener cautioned that encounters like the recent mauling near Calgary are not uncommon, citing previous fatal bear attacks in Mountain View County and indicating a resurgence of bears in historical habitats.
While Alberta Fish and Wildlife did not provide details about the second bear that fled the scene, Titchener speculated that the bears involved were likely a mother-cub pair. Officials will collect DNA samples from the survivor to confirm the identity of the bear shot during the encounter, as stated by provincial spokesperson Sheena Campbell.