An elk hunter was attacked by a grizzly bear sow while hiking in the Kootenays on Thursday.
According to the BC Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS), the hunter was rushed to Kelowna General Hospital for treatment of “serious injuries.”
He remains in hospital and the BCCOS says they have been unable to speak with him about the attack yet due to the significant nature of his injuries.
BCCOS officers did attend the location of the attack on Thursday, however, and a preliminary investigation suggests that the grizzly sow with cubs may have been drawn to the hunter’s elk calls.
“Initial information was that the hunter was able to fire off one shot in self defense but it is unknown if the bear was hit,” a BCCOS statement explained.
A drone with forward-looking infrared capabilities was flown over the area, but it did not locate any bears.
Conservations officers also conducted low-level helicopter flights and ground sweeps of the area, but those were unsuccessful as well.
In a return to the site this morning, conservation officers were unable to find any new evidence of bears remaining in the area.
