A Canadian couple and their dog are dead after a grizzly bear attacked them on Friday evening. Photo: Unsplash
Two people and their dog are dead after a grizzly bear attack in Alberta’s Banff National Park. According to Parks Canada, the incident occurred at around 8 p.m. on Friday evening.
The victims ran into the bear in Red Deer River Valley area, a part of the park in the Canadian Rockies. Rescuers received a message from a GPS device alerting them to the attack and immediately sent a rescue team. Unfortunately, they weren’t able to go by helicopter, delaying the response.
“Parks Canada immediately mobilized a Wildlife Human Attack Response Team whose members are specially trained in responding to wildlife attacks,” Banff National Park said in a statement. “Weather conditions at the time did not allow for helicopter use, and the response team traveled through the night to the location by ground.”
By the time the response team arrived on site, it was too late to save either victim or the dog, and the bear was still in the area and acting aggressively. The decision was made to euthanize the bear “to ensure public safety.” The victims were then transported to Sundre, Alberta, about 75 miles northwest of Calgary.
“The response team arrived on-site at 1 a.m. and discovered two deceased individuals,” Parks Canada explained in a statement. “While in the area, the response team encountered a grizzly bear that displayed aggressive behavior, leading Parks Canada staff to euthanize the bear on-site to ensure public safety. Sundre RCMP arrived at 5 a.m. to assist, and the victims were transported to Sundre, AB.”
As of this writing, the area around the site of the attack is closed until further notice. “This is a tragic incident, and Parks Canada wishes to express its sincere condolences to the families and friends of the victims,” the statement said.
