WATER VALLEY— Alberta Fish and Wildlife has confirmed that officers have captured and destroyed the bear responsible for the attack on a woman on a residence near Water Valley.
At approximately 7 p.m. on Tuesday (May 25), Alberta Fish and Wildlife received a call from RCMP regarding what appeared to be a fatal bear attack on a property southwest of Water Valley.
The victim of the attack went for a walk on a trail located on their property and was later found deceased.
Ina Lucila, communications advisor with the Alberta Government said a mature female exhibiting aggressive behaviour had been spotted in the area. Officers had also observed “obvious signs of bear activity” in the area, and took DNA samples to confirm their suspicions, she said.
A statement issued by Alberta Fish and Wildlife on Sunday (May 30) said officers were successful in their search for the bear.
“On May 29, Fish and Wildlife officers captured two large mature grizzly bears near the site of the attack, both of them mature females,” said Alberta Fish and Wildlife. “Officers obtained DNA samples from both bears, which were analyzed and confirmed that the older female grizzly with the worn teeth was responsible for the attack. It also concluded that the bear was not the same animal involved in the fatal attack on a man in the Waiparous Village area earlier in May.”
The statement indicated the bear was scheduled to be euthanized later that day.
“This decision is never made lightly, and when it is made, it is to prevent more attacks by that particular bear,” said Alberta Fish and Wildlife.
The second bear that was captured during the search for the animal responsible for the attack will be released back into the wild, officials said.
Lucila said officers typically see a few of these attacks each year, but fatalities are uncommon.
“Generally, officers see about two to three close contacts with a bear per year. Over the last 11 years, there’s been three grizzly bear mauling fatalities and two black bear [involved fatalities],” she said. “Earlier in the spring, there were two incidents of close contact with a grizzly bear.”
As human territory increasingly overlaps bear territory, Lucila said, these types of interactions are becoming more common.
“Human activities have become more frequent in bear territory. As a result, bear habitats have become more fragmented and encounters between bears and humans more common,” she said “Encounters between bears and people may have unfortunate consequences for both the bears and people involved. Having a habituated large animal in a residential area is a serious public safety concern, especially when the animal is not shy of humans and even willingly approaches them. Bears that show this sort of behaviour are at an increased risk to injure or kill someone.”
She said there are a few steps people who live in bear country can take to keep themselves safe and minimize the risk of a bear conflict.
- Residents should store garbage in bear-resistant and odour-proof containers or buildings.
- Any possible attractants should be cleaned up and removed as soon as possible, if not immediately, to avoid the habituation of bears and other wildlife.
- Pet food should never be left outside or stored in areas accessible to bears.
- Residents should clean barbecues and outdoor eating areas after use.
- Gardens and fruit-bearing trees or shrubs also attract bears and should be properly maintained or removed.
If you find yourself in an encounter with a bear, Lucila said, there are a number of steps you can take to avoid escalating the encounter.
- Do not run. Stay calm. Stay with your group and keep children close. Assess the situation.
- Look around. If you see cubs or an animal carcass, the bear will want to protect them. If you see either, back away from them.
- Prepare to use your bear spray.
- Back out. Leave the area the way that you came. Keep your eye on the bear without staring at it aggressively.
- Watch for a place to hide. As you back away, seek out a place of safety, such as a car or building.
- Speak to the bear in a soft, low voice. Let the bear know that you are human and not a prey animal.
- Use your noisemaker and prepare to defend yourself with bear spray.
