2 B.C. hunters attacked by grizzlies in a week: BCCOS
Posted October 3, 2025 7:08 am.
Conservation officers responded to two grizzly bear attacks in B.C. this week.
On Monday, the BC Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) says a grizzly sow attacked a hunter near Fort St. James. The bear, who had a cub with her, charged the hunter and bit his ankle.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO 1130 NEWSRADIO VANCOUVER LIVE!“The bear disengaged, and the hunter was able to seek medical help,” officers explained in a post to social media.
On Thursday, another hunter near Fort Steele had an encounter with another sow and her cubs. The BCCOS says the hunter was “seriously injured” and needed to be airlifted to hospital.
Officers say the first incident was considered defensive, as the mother bear was protecting her cub, while Thursday’s encounter remains under investigation.
The BCCOS is reminding hunters and backcountry trekkers to travel in groups, store food securely, carry bear spray, and make noise to alert wildlife.
If you encounter a grizzly, the service says you should stay calm and not run. Instead, you’re advised to speak softly, and back away slowly, or use bear spray if it charges.
—With files from David Nadalini
