A grizzly bear attacked a hunter in the vicinity of Cochrane, Alberta, on Thursday afternoon, as reported by Alberta Fish and Wildlife. The survivor’s hunting partner shot and killed the bear involved in the incident, while another bear, age unknown, fled the scene after the encounter. The victim, a man in his 30s, was airlifted from the Springbank area by STARS air ambulance, located west of Calgary. Although the exact condition of the man was not disclosed by the air ambulance service, Alberta Fish and Wildlife confirmed that he survived.
Following the incident, EMS indicated that the man was initially in serious condition but had improved to a non-life-threatening condition by Friday. Bear Safety and More founder Kim Titchener highlighted the frequency of grizzly bear attacks on hunters during hunting seasons in both Canada and the U.S. Recently, an elk hunter in B.C.’s East Kootenay region succumbed to injuries sustained in a grizzly bear attack after weeks of fighting back.
Titchener emphasized the importance of modifying behaviors to enhance safety while engaging in outdoor activities like hunting, biking, or camping. She noted that hunters moving silently through the wilderness could unknowingly attract bears by sounding like prey species, leading to unexpected encounters.
Despite the approaching hibernation period for bears, they are still active in search of vegetation to feed on and fatten up for the winter. Titchener mentioned that grizzly bears are reclaiming habitats they previously occupied, as seen in incidents like the recent bear attacks near Calgary. Alberta Fish and Wildlife is expected to conduct DNA tests on the survivor to identify the bear responsible for the attack.