A man and a woman are recovering in a Calgary hospital after they were attacked by a bear near Kimberly.
The couple was walking near Cherry Creek around 3:00 p.m. Sunday when they stumbled upon a grizzly sow with at least one cub.
The bear attacked the woman first and the man tried to fend it off with a walking stick. The bear then turned on him and attacked. The man was able to make his way to a nearby home and call for help.
Both suffered serious injuries to their legs, groin, head and arms and were airlifted out of the area on Sunday afternoon. They are recovering in Foothills Hospital.
"It is a worst case scenario to walk in on a bear especially with cubs feeding on a carcass and possibly also right alongside the creek, it can't hear the people walking," said B.C. Conservation Officer Sgt. Joe Caravetta.
Wildlife officers say the bear has no history of aggression and was just acting naturally so they have decided not to destroy it.
