A man was attacked by a pair of grizzly bears over the weekend in British Columbia. He suffered significant injuries, but they may have been much worse had his brave wife not intervened.
According to a Facebook post by the Conservation Officer Service, the attack occurred on Saturday at around 4:30 PM. The couple were riding E-bikes along the Kootenay River near West Creston when the wife reportedly heard her husband scream. The post explains that the wife saw a grizzly bear running towards her and used bear spray to fend it off. She then noticed a different bear was attacking her husband and managed to repel it with her spray.
The woman called the emergency services, and they transported her husband to a hospital in Cranbrook, where he required surgery. Conservation Officers explain that they “swept the vicinity” but could not find any bears. Authorities closed off three major trails and set up bear traps around the area, but they were empty the following morning. The post concludes by explaining that the trails remain closed for now.
Authorities Believe The Grizzly Bears Acted Defensively
The Conservation Officer Services posted some new findings about the incident yesterday. They confirm that the victim suffered “significant injuries” but believe the attack was defensive in nature. “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,” the post reads.
Authorities add that they found no evidence that the bears were stalking or hunting the couple. No further attacks have been reported since Saturday. The COS explains that they spoke with the regional large carnivore specialist, who also agreed that the behavior appeared to be defensive. The post notes that authorities expect the husband to recover.
COS Inspector Dave Webster said, “These people were well-prepared. They had bear spray, had it readily accessible, and knew how to use it. We’d like to recognize these actions and encourage anyone hiking, biking, or recreating in bear country to take similar precautions.” The trails remain closed for now, but authorities are no longer trying to capture or dispatch the bears.