A grizzly bear attack killed a bear and injured one person

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A grizzly bear encounter near Elkford resulted in the death of the bear and serious injuries to one of the two people involved.

Elkford RCMP responded to a report of a bear attack around 3 p.m. Thursday near an industrial park west of Highway 43 on a hillside south of Elkford, the police agency said.

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Two men with dogs were tracking the bear when one of the men, a 36-year-old resident of Sparwood, was attacked by an adult grizzly bear. The man was able to defend himself with a firearm and the bear escaped. Another man, the victim's father, called for help.

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The man suffered significant injuries from the attack, including broken bones and cuts. The father was not injured, according to RCMP.

The Elkford Fire Department, BC Ambulance, RCMP, conservation officers and local SAR teams coordinated a multi-agency response.

The man was moved about 200 meters down the mountainside, where a helicopter performed a long-haul rescue. He was taken to a nearby helipad in Elkford, where STARS Air Ambulance was waiting to transport him to Foothills Medical Center in Calgary. Elkford RCMP say the man was in stable condition when he left the scene.

Conservation officers sent a team to search for the bear, which they believed was injured. After 21.00 in the evening, police officers found a dead bear near the place of the attack.

The RCMP typically sees an increase in bear reports from May to September, he said.

For tips on how to travel safely in bear country, visit Parks Canada's bear safety page here.

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