A hiking couple has died after being attacked by a grizzly bear while hiking in Banff National Park, Canada. The victims’ dog was also found dead.

The attack occurred last Friday, September 29, in the early evening near the Red Deer River Valley. The area is considered isolated and park rangers received a bear attack alert sent via the victims’ GPS devices. A team specializing in wild animal attacks was therefore mobilized and went to the site.

Unfortunately, when they arrived on the scene, the three visitors (the couple and the dog) were already dead. Typically, the bear runs away after a defensive attack. However, the animal was still in the area and displayed aggressive behavior. That’s why park rangers shot the animal and isolated the area.

Brown bear

According to a family member of the victims, the couple were experienced and careful and loved being in contact with nature. They knew the protocol [encontros com]bear and I followed it to the letter,” he said.
Experts also said bear attacks on humans are rare, but can happen if there is a lack of food.
At this time of year, these animals are more active and are looking for food to meet their fattening needs for the winter. At the same time, it is also the busiest time for climbers in the Rocky Mountains.
“There are only 60 grizzly bears in Banff and less than 1,000 in Alberta. It is an endangered species. Half the time when people are attacked by carnivores, they are doing something risky or don’t have the right equipment. But sometimes, and I suspect this was the case, something tragic happens when someone is in the wrong place at the wrong time,” Kim Titchener, founder of Bear Safety and More, said in a newspaper interview The Guardian.
Several recent bear incidents have occurred in other areas of the Canadian Rockies. In 2022, there were 26 bear attacks and four people died.