A bear attacks and seriously injures a 21-year-old tree planter in Canada

A 21-year-old woman who was planting trees was seriously injured by a bear in western Canada in what authorities described as a “defensive attack.”

The attack took place shortly after 3 p.m. Thursday near Bearhole Lake Provincial Park outside Tumbler Ridge, a small town in northeastern British Columbia, it said Friday. New release From the Department of Conservation Officer in the province.

“The bear initially erupted and the victim retreated to a nearby road where the bear attacked him,” officials said.

The agency said the bear eventually escaped and a colleague came to the woman to help her and ask for help.

The victim was flown by helicopter to a hospital in Prince George, and authorities said she was now in stable condition.

Conservation officers who responded to the site determined that there were bears in the area, but did not spot any. Officials say they do not have conclusive evidence, but believe the grizzly bear attacked the woman.

according to statistics Released by the BC Department of Environment, Lands and Parks, there are an estimated 120,000-160,000 black bears in the province – about one bear for every seven square kilometres. The number of grizzly bears in the county, which is estimated at 10,000 to 13,000, is classified as endangered.

Bear conflicts between humans are considered “relatively rare,” the ministry said, unless the animals are startled or protecting their cubs or food.

However, last October, a “rare predatory attack” by a black bear left three people injured, two seriously, on CBC. mentioned. This attack also took place in northeastern British Columbia, just outside the city of Dawson Creek.

Since 2019, calls for predatory grizzly bear attacks have doubled, in some cases tripled According to the statistics He was released by the county. In the years 2018-2019, there were 11 calls about predatory grizzly bear attacks, and the following year there were 36 calls about attacks, according to the stats. As of April 2023 – the most recent monthly statistic released – there have been 29 calls about the attacks.

On Friday, officials urged the public to “take precautions in the event of wildlife encounters, which include carrying bear spray, traveling in groups, and ensuring pets are restrained.”