Conservation officers are investigating a bear attack in the backcountry outside Whistler that injured a woman on Friday evening, according to the BC Conservation Officer Service.
The service said a group of three hikers encountered two bears at about 5 pm near Conflict Lake, in the Callaghan Conservancy. One of the bears attacked a woman before disengaging, according to the release.
The service’s Predator Attack Team flew to the site by helicopter alongside members of the Squamish RCMP and Squamish Search and Rescue, the release said. Officers then carried out a safety sweep of the area.
One adult male black bear at the attack site was killed by conservation officers because of safety concerns, according to the service. Officers said they were not able to confirm whether a black bear or a grizzly bear was involved in the attack.
The woman was given first aid at the scene and flown to hospital by helicopter, where she was treated for injuries that were not life threatening, the service said.
Conservation officers were returning to the site to continue their investigation, according to the release.
Working with BC Parks, the service has closed trail access in the area and posted signage. The public is asked to respect the closure and stay out of the area for their own safety.
The BC Conservation Officer Service thanked its law enforcement and emergency response partners for their assistance and said it would provide an update when it was able to do so.
