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Two men are recovering in hospital after being attacked by a grizzly bear sow south of Fort Nelson, B.C. on Sunday.
According to B.C. Conservation, the two men were legally hunting sheep when they walked over a ridge and were attacked by a grizzly bear sow. The sow was with her two cubs in an area northeast of Buckinghorse River. The hunters, who are both in their 30s and from the Peace River area, were carrying a sheep cape and meat.
The men had been part of a larger party but were in a remote area about 40 kilometres west of Alaska Highway, which is accessible only by foot, helicopter or horse, said Mark West with B.C. Conservation.
West says the sow was reacting “defensively” and this was not a predatory attack. In an attempt to stop the grizzly, one hunter told conservation officers he may have gotten off two shots but was unsure if he hit the bear.
B.C. Ambulance Service took a call from the hunters at about 6:15 p.m. last night and initially sent two helicopters to lift them out.
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They were airlifted to a hospital in Fort Nelson at 3:30 a.m. before being transferred to Vancouver early this morning.
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Both men, who are considered to be very experienced hunters, have serious injuries to their head, neck and arms.
One conservation officer who spent the night with the hunters until the helicopter arrived said “it was a bear mauling, it wasn’t pretty.”
“This is one of the most dangerous encounters we can have with bears,” said Micah Kneller with B.C. Conservation. “A sow grizzly bear with her cubs in a surprise encounter. We’re talking 15 to 20 seconds for each encounter and then she was gone.”
West said no action will be taken with the sow since she was in her own territory and protecting her cubs.
However, conservation officers will be looking for the grizzly to make sure she wasn’t hurt in the incident.
This is the second time a hunter has been attacked by a grizzly in less than a week. Bow hunter Chad Dueck was mauled in the mountains near Cranbrook. He is expected to make a full recovery.
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