Grizzly bear attack on solo hiker prompts closure of section of Kananaskis Country
Alberta Parks confirms a section of Elbow-Sheep Wildland Provincial Park in Kananaskis Country has been closed to the public after a hiker was attacked by a grizzly bear Sunday afternoon.
According to EMS officials, a 30-year-old man encountered a grizzly bear sow and her two cubs at around 1 p.m. southwest of the Highwood Pass and he was injured in the confrontation.
The man was retrieved from near the scene of the attack utilizing an Alpine Helicopters helicopter and airlifted to an awaiting EMS crew. He was then transported by ground ambulance to the Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary in serious but stable condition for treatment of various soft tissue injuries.
Alberta Parks says the bear attack victim was a solo hiker.
An area of the park stretching west of Highway 40, between the Peter Lougheed Provincial Park boundary to the south and an unnamed ridge south of Running Rain Lake, is now off-limits to visitors.
Encounters with a bear in Kananaskis Country are possible at any time and Alberta Parks says hikers should take preventative measures to reduce the likelihood of coming face-to-face with a bruin, including:
- Travelling in groups and making plenty of noise;
- Watching and listening for any indication of bears in the area;
- Keeping pets on leash; and
- Carrying bear spray, ensuring it's easily accessible and that you know how to use it.
Bear warnings are currently in place for the following regions in the Highwood area in connection with Sunday's attack:
- Ptarmigan Cirque;
- Pocaterra Ridge;
- Arethusa;
- Lipsett;
- Mist;
- Picklejar Creek; and,
- Lantern Creek.
For the latest on closures and bear warnings in the area, visit Elbow-Sheep Wildland Provincial Park advisories.
All bear sightings in Kananaskis Country should be reported to 403-591-7755
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.