WARNING: Some of the pictures in this story may be disturbing to some readers.
EDMONTON – Alberta Fish and Wildlife says the allegations of a bear attack near Calling Lake are unfounded.
Justin Gambler claims he was riding an ATV Friday night near his father’s cabin when he stopped to have a cigarette.
That’s when he alleges he saw what he believed to be a young black bear come out of nowhere.
“I had no time to react when it attacked me,” he said.
“I kind of moved out of the way and it was swiping at me.”
Gambler was interviewed by Global News over the weekend with visible injuries, including 27 stitches around his right eye.
Watch above: A Calling Lake man claims he was attacked by a bear Friday evening. Quinn Ohler reports.
He was transported by the University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton by STARS Air Ambulance.
Gambler was released from hospital Saturday afternoon.
Investigators spoke to Gambler and his father, as well as several residents of the area. Physical evidence was collected from the location where Gambler alleged the attack happened. The Fish and Wildlife DNA forensics lab was used to analyze some of the evidence.
Fish and Wildlife says it’s concluded the evidence does not support that Gambler was attacked by a bear.
“All of our evidence collected and analyzed by the team of at least six active investigators does not support a wildlife attack in any way,” Mike Ewald, Fish and Wildlife Officer.
Ewald says Fish and Wildlife has finished its investigation and won’t be conducting any capture efforts in the area.
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