Calgary resident recounts cougar attack in Banff National Park

A Calgary man suffered minor injuries but says he survived this week's cougar attack in Banff National Park.

Spencer Weilerman was on a solo day trip Monday, hiking the Rockbunade Lake Trail at 11 a.m. when the life-threatening encounter happened.

The 23-year-old returned to the parking lot because his phone was low on battery.

He was about 20 meters away from the road to urinate when suddenly a cougar pounced on him.

“I felt a huge weight on my shoulders. Something scratched my face,” Weilermann said.

“I grabbed my hair as hard as I could, pulled it off my shoulder and fell down the hill. It was pure adrenaline. I wasn't thinking.

“It was an immediate reaction to get whatever it was from me.”

Weilerman said he fell another 20 meters down the hill while fighting the cougar during the 30-second attack.

“We were just rolling and falling. I don't think I remember much after that because I hit my head on a tree or a log or something,” he said.

“My glasses flew off. I don't know if I passed out, but all I remember is coming up to the junkie and grabbing him, and I'm punching for my life. I've got claws in my boots. I'm trying. I'm screaming, screaming, but yeah, after a few hits I must have landed on something because it ran off into the bush.

(Photo provided.)

Weilerman suffered minor soft tissue injuries, including scratches to the side of his face and his left eye.

He was able to pull back into a roadside parking lot and dial 911, only to be met 15 minutes later by a Parks Canada officer and paramedics were able to transport him to Canmore in non-life-threatening conditions.

Parks Canada posted an area closure bulletin on Facebook late Monday night for Castle Mountain Lookout and Silverton Falls, which includes Rockbunad Lake, which sits between Lakes Banff and Louise.

“Parks Canada asks park visitors to avoid these areas and to respect the closures to ensure the safety of residents and Parks Canada team members working in the area,” the statement said.

CTV News has reached out to Parks Canada for an update on why the area is closed and is awaiting a response.

(Photo provided.)

(Photo provided.)

Banff National Park has had just one fatal cougar attack in January 2001, more than 20 years ago.

Francis Frost, 30, was skiing alone near Lake Minnewanka when he was attacked.

Wildlife officials found a cougar on his body and shot it.

Alberta Parks previously issued an advisory for Kananaskis Country after a traveling cougar with dogs was spotted in the area in December.

Additional alerts were also issued last year after cougar sightings in Bow Valley Provincial Park, Canmore and Cochrane.

(Photo provided.)

Conservationists call for awareness

Weilerman is a backpacker who regularly completes private day and overnight camping trips across Alberta.

Although this was his first visit to the Rockbound Lake area, he was well prepared.

“I had all the safety precautions, bear spray, horn, radio, satellite phone and it was just a random attack,” he said.

“I couldn't use these tools now, but I brought them for my own protection, and it's important to get the right education and explore the areas you're going to for the first time.”

Clio Smeaton, president of the Cochrane Environmental Institute, said the best advice for anyone who sees a wild animal like a bear or cougar is to make as much noise as possible.

“Look at the animal. You have to make yourself look much bigger than the animal and it has to turn and run away,” Smeaton said.

“The theory is that if you look at a big cat, and this has been applied to both leopards and cougars, if you turn your back on them, they're more likely to attack, but they never do. “

Smeaton said cougars can be spotted in certain areas where they don't normally go because of last year's wildfire season in Alberta, which was the worst on record.

“They have to leave the fire area to find food to eat, and if you have the biggest year on record, a very large part of Alberta has burned,” Smeaton said.

“So people living outside of the fire zone are seeing wildlife that they didn't expect.”

Weilermann thanked for the help he received.

The attack does not prevent him from enjoying nature and going out, but he encourages others to learn more.

“I'm going to camp next weekend, so it's not going to stop me,” he said.

“Being born and raised in Calgary, the mountains run in my blood. I don't think that should stop anyone from enjoying nature. It's a beautiful thing and bears, cougars or wolves in the area are something we should embrace.”