A black bear was killed in Whistler on April 28 after knocking a woman to the ground and biting her, according to the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW).
The Conservation Officer Service is investigating the incident, the RMOW said in an emailed statement.
"At approx. 8:30 p.m., a woman was walking her leashed dog in the Kadenwood neighbourhood when she was knocked to the ground and bitten by a bear. She was transported by ambulance and received medical attention for non-life threatening injuries," the statement read.
"Conservation Officers responded to the scene alongside police, firefighters and paramedics. COs conducted a sweep of the attack site and located a black bear nearby, which matched witness descriptions of the offending animal. The bear was dispatched due to public safety concerns."
The COS has received a report of possible cubs in the surrounding areas where the woman was attacked, a ministry spokesperson told Pique.
"COs are searching the area. If cubs are located, they will be assessed for rehabilitation at a permitted rearing facility," they said. "No cubs were reported in the area or observed by COs during the response or for several hours afterwards."
You can read more on B.C.'s approach to orphaned black bear cubs and the rehabilitation process here.
Instances of black bears attacking humans are exceedingly rare. The Kadenwood neighbourhood is the site of an infamous 2018 bear-feeding case, in which a Whistler woman was ultimately fined $10,500 for repeatedly feeding bears, but Conservation Officers said they were unable to confirm a connection.
According to the COS, "the black bear in this attack did not have an ear tag, and the COS cannot confirm whether it had a conflict history," a spokesperson said.
"The COS cannot stress enough the importance of not feeding bears and other dangerous wildlife, which can create a serious risk to public safety, as well as the safety of the bear. Violators can face fines under the Wildlife Act. Reports can be made to the Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) hotline."
The COS thanked its law enforcement and emergency responder partners for their assistance.
“Thankfully the victim was not more seriously injured,” said COS Sgt. Chris Doyle in a statement. “The COS is receiving reports of bear activity in Whistler and surrounding areas. We encourage everyone to familiarize themselves with safety precautions in case of wildlife encounters.”
Conservation Officers are continuing to investigate the incident, the RMOW said. People are encouraged to familiarize themselves with safety precautions in case of wildlife encounters. For more resources, visit WildSafeBC.com
