A woman was hospitalized following a bear encounter in the wilderness near Whistler on Friday. The B.C. Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) reported that a trio of 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 they assisted in transporting conservation officers to the location and airlifting the injured woman. She sustained a serious leg wound, but B.C. Emergency Health Services confirmed she was in stable condition upon arrival at the hospital.
In response to safety concerns, BCCOS located and euthanized an adult male black bear at the scene of the attack. The type of bear responsible for the incident has not been definitively identified yet, as per the service. Sills highlighted that the area is recognized as grizzly bear habitat, emphasizing the need for hikers to take precautions such as consistently making noise to alert bears of their presence.
BCCOS announced that officers would revisit the area on Saturday. B.C. Parks has closed off trail access in the vicinity and is advising the public to steer clear of the location.