A woman was hospitalized following an encounter with bears in the wilderness near Whistler on Friday. The B.C. Conservation Officer Service reported that a group of three hikers encountered two bears near Conflict Lake in the Callaghan Conservancy around 5 p.m. PT that day. One of the bears attacked the woman before backing off.
Whistler Search and Rescue president Brad Sills mentioned that the team assisted in transporting conservation officers to the scene and airlifting the injured woman. She sustained a serious leg injury but was in stable condition upon being transported to the hospital by B.C. Emergency Health Services.
To ensure safety, the BCCOS eliminated an adult male black bear in the vicinity of the attack. However, the type of bear responsible for the incident remains unconfirmed. Sills highlighted that the area is a known habitat for grizzly bears, advising hikers to take necessary precautions such as making continuous noise to alert wildlife of their presence.
The BCCOS informed that officers would revisit the location on Saturday. B.C. Parks has closed trail access in the area and advised the public to avoid the region for safety reasons.