A senior woman sustained injuries in a grizzly bear encounter while hiking in the South Chilcotin area of British Columbia. The incident was reported to Pemberton Search and Rescue (SAR) by the RCMP on Sunday afternoon. The victim, aged 72, was hiking near Tyaughton Lake, east of Gold Bridge, approximately 70 kilometers north of Pemberton, as confirmed by SAR president David McKenzie.
McKenzie described the bear attack, stating that the bear was physically engaging with the hiker. Search teams promptly mobilized to the location and coordinated with the B.C. Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) before taking action. The BCCOS swiftly dispatched a three-member predator response team by helicopter to the scene.
The hiker was exploring Pearson Ridge, a remote hiking spot accessible via forest service roads. The B.C. Wildfire Service, operating nearby, located the injured individual and assisted in the rescue effort. Subsequently, an air ambulance was arranged to transport the victim from the former Gun Lake Airport near Gold Bridge.
The injured person was airlifted to the hospital in serious condition, suffering from various lacerations and a neck fracture. However, McKenzie reported that the woman is now in stable condition and recovering well.
Following the incident, wildlife authorities investigated the area and retrieved the hiker’s belongings. The Ministry of Environment suggested that the bear attack was defensive in nature, involving a female grizzly with at least one cub. No plans to capture or remove the bear were made, with cautionary signs being installed by the Conservation Officer Service as a preventive measure.
Renowned bear biologist Wayne McCrory, known for his extensive work in bear risk assessment, expressed sympathy for the victim and emphasized the importance of minimizing bear encounters. McCrory highlighted the significance of understanding bear behavior and recommended safety precautions such as avoiding peak bear activity times, carrying bear spray, and ensuring trail and campsite locations are not in prime bear feeding zones.
The South Chilcotin region in B.C. is recognized as a significant habitat for grizzly bears, offering abundant food sources like salmon streams and prime ecological conditions. McCrory stressed the need for vigilance in bear-inhabited areas to prevent potentially dangerous encounters.
