Two Dead After Grizzly Bear Attack at National Park

A fatal grizzly bear attack claimed the lives of a couple and their dog camping in Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada on Friday, Sept. 30. It’s the second deadly grizzly attack in North American since July.

Parks Canada said it received an alert from a GPS device in the Red Deer River Valley west of Ya Ha Tinda Ranch around 8 p.m. on Friday. However, due to weather conditions, a response team trained in wildlife attacks was not able to make it to the scene by helicopter. By the time they arrived by ground around 1 a.m., they found the couple already deceased.

While the response team was in the location they encountered a grizzly displaying “aggressive” behavior and euthanized the animal for public safety.

“This is a tragic incident and Parks Canada wishes to express its sincere condolences to the families and friends of the victims,” said Natalie Fay, external relations manager for the Banff field unit in a statement. 

The unnamed couple had set up camp around 5 p.m, just hours before the GPS alert came in, according to a family member of the deceased. “They checked in every night,” the family member told CBC News. “This means they were not traveling after dark and they were not setting up camp when the attack happened.”

“They were long-term partners who loved the outdoors and were inseparable,” the family member said in a statement. “They lived for being in the backcountry and were two of the most cautious people I know. They knew bear protocol and followed it to a tee.”

Grizzly bear attacks are rare, and only about 14 percent of attacks are fatal. It’s possible that the bear was hungry and looking for food before entering hibernation for the winter when it came across the couple.

Just weeks ago, a pair of grizzly bears were reported to have followed a group of hikers in Banff National Park for 15 to 20 minutes, but eventually they went away on their own.

Earlier this year, a woman was killed by a grizzly bear on a popular hiking trail near Yellowstone national park back in July. The recent uptick in bear encounters highlight the importance of bear safety education, carrying bear spray, and staying in groups when out in the wilderness.