Man seriously injured in B.C. grizzly bear attack in Kootenay region

[IronNoggin]

Man seriously injured in B.C. grizzly bear attack in Kootenay region​

CRANBROOK — A man has suffered "significant" injuries after a grizzly bear attack in the British Columbia Interior.

The province's Conservation Officer Service says in a post on Facebook that the attack happened at about 4:30 p.m. Saturday along the Kootenay River near West Creston, B.C.

The post says a couple were e-biking along the river when woman heard her husband scream, then saw a bear running toward her.

The service says the woman used bear spray on the animal to deter it, then saw a second one attacking her husband.

The woman then used the bear spray again, and both bears ran off as a result.

The man was taken to hospital in Cranbrook, B.C., via ambulance and under went surgery for unspecified injuries.

The service says three major trails in the area have been closed while officers scoured the vicinity and set traps, but no bears were spotted or captured.

MSN

 

[JWS]

Wow! Sounds like wifey is quick to react, good for her. there is no shortage of bears in that area. Further west, but when I used to fish the Columbia in castlegar you had to have your head on a swivel. When we lived in Nelson it seemed there was an annual relocation attempt of a grizz in the area.

 

[Stizzla]

Good luck at getting out of washing the dishes now.

Him: “Hey hun, can you do the dishes tonight?!”

Her: remember when I saved your life and fought off two grizzly bears with bear spray as they were about to kill you?! That’s right. 2 grizzlies.”

Him: “would you prefer autumn mist or lemon citrus dish detergent tonight?”

 

[InterMechanico]

Good luck at getting out of washing the dishes now.

Him: “Hey hun, can you do the dishes tonight?!”

Her: remember when I saved your life and fought off two grizzly bears with bear spray as they were about to kill you?! That’s right. 2 grizzlies.”

Him: “would you prefer autumn mist or lemon citrus dish detergent tonight?”

Oh snap

 

[AndrewH]

Loads of griz in the Creston area, they have habituated themselves to the corn fields. I was elk hunting out in Creston last sept and had around 3-4 encounters in about 10 days. They actually go into corn fields and knock down about a 15ft circle of corn and lay down to feast. They do a real number on the fields...

 

[Samnjoe]

Bring back the hunt!

 

[IronNoggin]

UPDATE: Kootenay grizzly attack deemed defensive, no efforts to trap or kill the bears​

(UPDATE: July 28 @ 3:25 pm) – The BC Conservation Service (BCOS) investigation into a weekend grizzly bear attack has found that the incident was defensive in nature.

The attack occurred outside of West Creston, BC, near the Kootenay River, and saw a man get attacked by a bear while on an e-bike ride with his wife on Saturday.

As the man’s wife was scaring away one grizzly bear with bear spray, she then noticed another bear attacking her husband.

The man was taken to the hospital with significant injuries and needed surgery.

“Conservation officers are confident that the couple e-biking along the Kootenay River on the weekend likely startled the two bears in a surprise encounter on a corner of the trail, which is bordered by thick brush,” reads a social media post from the BCOS.

“No evidence was found to suggest either bear had been stalking or hunting the couple. There were no reports of bear activity or aggressive bear behaviour in the area prior to the Saturday afternoon attack.”

The BCOS added that the victim, witness and a regional large carnivore specialist were all spoken to and the attack site was assessed.

The regional expert agreed that the bear’s behaviour appeared to be defensive. Due to the defensive nature of the attack, no efforts are being taken to trap or dispatch the bear at this time.

“These people were well-prepared. They had bear spray, had it readily accessible and knew how to use it,” said COS Insp. Dave Webster.

“We’d like to recognize these actions and encourage anyone hiking, biking or recreating in bear country to take similar precautions.”

The trails in the area remain closed as a precautionary measure.

UPDATE: Kootenay grizzly attack deemed defensive, no efforts to trap or kill the bears

(UPDATE: July 28 @ 3:25 pm) – The BC Conservation Service (BCOS) investigation into a weekend grizzly bear attack has found that the incide...

www.vernonnow.com

 

[wildmanyeah]

loud pipes save lives!

 

[SpringFever2359]

Loads of griz in the Creston area, they have habituated themselves to the corn fields. I was elk hunting out in Creston last sept and had around 3-4 encounters in about 10 days. They actually go into corn fields and knock down about a 15ft circle of corn and lay down to feast. They do a real number on the fields...

Yup, same here on Island with black bears... farmers hate them..destroy their corn fields