Senior attacked by bear at West Vancouver home

A West Vancouver senior is recovering from minor injuries after being attacked by a bear at her home.

The BC Conservation Officer Service says the woman was investigating a noise coming from her garage in the British Properties area when a black bear “made contact.”

A sergeant with the service, Dean Miller, says there’s evidence that the bear was hungrily trying to break into the garage.

“We believe that all of the normal household food smells were contained inside the house. This person was obviously practicing good bear-aware principles, but as bears have very good noses, they can smell household garbage from quite a ways away.”

Miller says the woman probably startled the bear and it swiped at her with a paw.

Emergency services responded to reports of the attack and brought the woman to hospital with minor injuries.

Police reportedly conducted a patrol of the area and saw no bears.

“Bears can move quite quickly and quietly and not be found. I mean, there’s lots of forested corridors and streams and whatnot that come in and out of the British Properties in West Vancouver.”

The BC Conservation Officer Service is now reminding you to take precautions against wildlife encounters, like travelling in groups, carrying bear spray, and ensuring pets are leashed.

“If you do hear a noise outside like that, before you go outside, just announce your presence, so that it’s very clear that if there is a bear on your property, it knows you’re there. Chances are, more times than not, that bear will will turn away and and try to avoid you,” said Miller.

You can report bear sightings or aggressive bear behaviour to the Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) hotline by calling 1-877-952-7277.

—With files from Cole Schisler.