Two women were seriously injured by a black bear just after sunset Monday on a trail near Dawson Creek, BC, according to local police.
Conservation officials say a teenager was also injured after the bear charged a family of four who were hiking the slopes of the Bear Mountain Nordic Ski Association, about four miles away. of the city, in the northeast of the province.
Police say rescue teams and the RCMP were called to the area and searched the 23-kilometre forested trail network for an hour after receiving reports of the attack.
As darkness fell, police say two RCMP officers in an all-terrain vehicle found the two women lying in the bush with life-threatening injuries.
Sgt. Damon Werrell, commander of the Dawson Creek RCMP detachment, said officers shot and killed a large black bear nearby that appeared to be “guarding victims.”
In a written release, the Conservation Bureau Service said the family was chased by the bear after it charged, and attacked one of the women.
The second woman and a teenager were injured trying to help her.
The conservation service says the boy was mauled by the bear but was able to get out of the area to get help.
RCMP Cpl. Madonna Saunderson said a family member was able to call the police.
Volunteers from South Peace Search and Rescue helped transport the women, aged 30 and 48, out of the jungle to paramedics.
One of the women was airlifted to an Edmonton hospital. The other woman and the teenager were taken to Dawson Creek Hospital.
Officials say conservation officers did not locate any other bears in the area and will perform a necropsy on the shot bear.
The BC Conservation Officer Service says it is continuing its investigation at the scene of a bear attack near Dawson Creek on Monday. (Facebook/BC Conservation Officer Service)
RCMP said backcountry people should carry bear spray, travel in groups and avoid hiking during sunrise and sunset, when bears will be most active.
The Bear Mountain Nordic Ski Association maintains trails for hiking, cross-country running, wildlife viewing, mountain biking and horseback riding in the summer. The trails have been closed to the public since the attack.