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Parks Canada says a grizzly bear attack in Yoho National Park was the first of the kind — but there’s no need for wider concern, given that the animal was acting defensively after being surprised by a runner in its natural environment.
The attack happened on Nov. 24, the organization says, when a runner was charged by the bear along the Tally Ho trail, about 50 kilometres by road from Golden, B.C.
The runner received “minor injuries,” and drove themselves to hospital in Golden where they were treated and released.
“Based on interviews with the person involved and the initial investigation, the incident appears consistent with a defensive response by a grizzly bear during a surprise encounter,” Parks Canada said in a statement.
The satement added that the trail and day-use area where the encounter took place have now been closed.
Saundi Stevens, a Parks Canada wildlife ecologist based in Lake Louise who oversees Yoho National Park, said that to her knowledge, it’s the first time a grizzly has ever made physical contact with a visitor to the park in its decades of existence.
Stevens said that there was nothing from the attack that triggered wider concern, pointing out the park welcomes millions of visitors annually to an area with a large population of bears.
“To have an encounter like this is very rare,” she said.
“We have a stable bear population, although some of the research indicates that it’s a declining population closer to roads, but overall we don’t have a higher population than usual.”
The organization is reminding people to use caution when heading into the woods, make noise, watch for signs of wildlife and, where possible, travel in groups.
