Grizzly bear kills couple and their dog at Banff National Park in Canada

A pair was killed by an “aggressive” grizzly bear in Canada’s Banff Nationwide Park, park officers mentioned Sunday, marking a minimum of the second deadly grizzly assault in North America since July.

At about 8 p.m. on Friday, Parks Canada Dispatch in Banff Nationwide Park obtained an alert of a bear assault from a GPS gadget. The alert location originated from inside Banff Nationwide Park, within the Pink Deer River Valley, officers mentioned in a information launch.

A workforce specifically educated in responding to wildlife assaults was mobilized. Unable to make use of a helicopter due to poor climate circumstances, the workforce travelled by means of the night time to achieve the placement by floor. Officers arrived on-site at about 1 a.m. and found two individuals who have been already useless. Whereas within the space, the workforce encountered and euthanized a grizzly bear “that displayed aggressive conduct,” officers mentioned.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police arrived on the scene at 5 a.m. and helped transport the victims to Sundre, Alberta.

Officers didn’t establish the victims however a member of the family advised CBC Information the individuals who died have been a pair who have been skilled backcountry hikers. The member of the family mentioned the couple’s canine was additionally killed within the assault.

“They lived for being within the backcountry and have been two of probably the most cautious folks I do know. They knew bear protocol and adopted it to a tee,” the member of the family advised CBC Information in an announcement.

Kim Titchener, a buddy of the household and the founding father of Bear Security and Extra, advised Reuters that solely 14% of grizzly bear assaults are deadly, however that human-bear encounters are rising as extra folks head outdoor.

“It is actually simply the rationale why we’re seeing extra assaults, which is extra folks heading outdoor and sadly not being educated on this,” she mentioned.

Final month, a grizzly bear that had fatally mauled a lady on a forest path west of Yellowstone Nationwide Park in July was killed after it broke right into a home close to West Yellowstone.

Additionally in July, a 21-year-old lady who was planting timber was significantly injured by a bear in British Columbia, Canada. Officers couldn’t find the animal however imagine it was a grizzly bear that attacked the girl. Earlier this month, a hunter in Montana was severely mauled by a grizzly.

Following the weekend assault at Banff Nationwide Park, officers closed an space round Pink Deer and Panther valleys, Parks Canada mentioned.

“This can be a tragic incident, and Parks Canada needs to specific its honest condolences to the households and associates of the victims,” officers mentioned.