A grizzly bear attack in the East Kootenay has sent a 56-year-old man to hospital.
It happened early Sunday morning while the man and his son-in-law were hunting in the Elk Valley near Fernie.
Wilf Lloyd and his son-in-law, Skeet Podrasky, were hunting in a gravel pit about 10 kilometres outside of Fernie when Lloyd was mauled by a 400 pound bear.
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Lloyd’s son-in-law quickly came to his defence and shot at the bear multiple times. Unfortunately, one of the gunshots hit Wilf in the leg.
Suffering from the attack and a gunshot wound, Lloyd was airlifed to a Calgary hospital.
It’s unclear what provoked the attack, but Fernie’s mayor says grizzly sightings have increased in recent years. The region has hired an extra conservation officer to help educate the public on the dangers.
Last year, two men were scouting Fernie’s forest trails in preparation for hunting season when they got between a grizzly and her cub.
Lloyd is the area’s first victim this year. His friends credit his survival to his son in-law’s quick thinking.
Lloyd will undergo surgery tomorrow.
— with files from Tanya Beja
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