In a rare grizzly bear attack in Canada’s Banff national park, two people and their dog were killed, and the bear was ultimately put to death by park authorities.
The couple has not yet been named, but according to a family member, they “loved the outdoors and were inseparable.”
They were two of the most cautious people I knew and loved going in the bush. They were well aware of and adhered to bear protocol.
The common-law couple checked in daily while in the backcountry, including on Friday at 5pm when they sent a message that they had arrived safely at camp in the Red Deer River Valley, an area of steep cliffs and treacherous terrain, according to a family member of one of the deceased.
Later that evening, a satellite gadget sent a distress signal to park staff asking for assistance after a bear attack. A specialized crew that deals with wildlife assaults was sent out right away, but they encountered difficulties due to the bad weather and were unable to use a helicopter. The team made their way through the night on foot and discovered the couple and their dog had perished in the grizzly bear encounter when they got to the isolated campground at 1 a.m. on Saturday.
Parks Canada killed the bear because it was acting aggressively and did so “to ensure public safety.” Hours later, the RCMP showed there to bring the victims to Sundre, a city located about 50 kilometers to the east of the attack.
Parks Canada issued a statement saying, “This is a tragic tragedy, and Parks Canada wishes to convey its profound sympathies to the families and friends of the victims.
The deaths marked the first in the area around Banff National Park in fifty years, despite a flurry of assaults by the “Black Grizzly of Whiskey Creek” in the summer of 1980, one of which proved fatal, in the area.
According to experts, bears frequently move on after a “defensive” attack, even when they are startled by people. However, the bear was still with the victims when the Parks Canada crew arrived. Attacks by predators are quite infrequent.
After the bear’s necropsy is finished by biologists, Parks Canada will finish its forensic examination.
Bears undergo a stage known as “hyperphagia” in the autumn and have an increased hunger in preparation for the winter hibernation, according to Kim Titchener, a friend of the victims’ family and the creator of Bear Safety and More. The “Fat Bear Week”-popularized excessive feeding by bears is their last-ditch effort to gather enough fat before winter.
“They’re still very busy in the fall and attempting to consume as much as they can. Sometimes people believe that because it is becoming cold outside, bears won’t be around. However, they are still eating vegetation in the valley bottoms. And you will undoubtedly run into them.
Although the seasons can influence bear behavior, Titchener remarked that the “sheer number” of people going outside is more significant.
Less than 1,000 grizzly bears live in Alberta, and there are only 60 in Banff. They are a vulnerable species. Apparently, there are too many bears here. No, Titchener stated, “We have too many people here. Most people going into the wilderness don’t take bear safety classes.
“People who are attacked by carnivores perform unsafe things or lack the necessary equipment 50% of the time. But occasionally, and I believe this was the case here, something horrible happens because it’s the wrong place at the wrong time.