BURSTA man hiking in the Shuswap with his dog was attacked by a grizzly bear and sustained non-life-threatening injuries on Tuesday night (Sept. 1).
According to the BC Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS), the man was hiking with his off-leash dog along the Queest Mountain Forest Service Road in the Malakwa area, near Sicamous, when he came across a grizzly bear.
The bruin chased the dog but ended up coming in contact with the man.
Conservation officers were called to the scene at about 8 p.m., where they found the man who needed medical attention for non-life-threatening injuries.
Upon investigation, officers discovered that the “attack was defensive in nature.”
“No efforts to capture or locate the bear will be made. Warning signage has been placed in the area. Conservation Officers will continue to monitor bear activity in the area and respond as necessary to ensure public safety,” stated BCCOS on Facebook.
BC Conservation is now warning the public to familiarize themselves with safety precautions for wildlife encounters, including leashing pets and carrying bear spray.
“Bears are dealing with drought conditions and are active as they need to find berries and food in advance of hibernation,” explained BCCOS.
For more tips and resources, visit WildSafeBC. Report bear conflicts and aggressive bear behaviour to the RAPP line at 1-877-952-7277.