“You should carry bear repellent spray just in case.”
A couple in their 60s died after being attacked by a bear in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada.
According to the British Guardian on the 5th (local time), around 8 p.m. on the 29th of last month, Parks Canada received a location information system (GPS) alert indicating a bear attack near the ‘Red Deer River’.
The park department immediately dispatched a response team, but due to inclement weather, they arrived on the scene around 1 a.m. the next day. Two campers were found dead along with a dog. At the time, it was confirmed that the bear repellent spray had been emptied and the tent was broken.
The two campers who died were identified as Doug Inglis (62) and Jenny Gers (62). The two people, who usually enjoyed outdoor activities, came here to camp for a week and were met with disaster. The last text message they left reportedly contained only three words: ‘Bear attack bad.’
The response team soon found a grizzly bear nearby that appeared to be acting unstable and shot it dead on the spot. Additionally, parts of Banff National Park were closed as a precautionary measure.
The Park Service issued a statement saying, “This is a tragic incident,” and “We offer our condolences to the victim’s family and friends.”
Wildlife expert Kim Titchener said that casualties when encountering a grizzly bear are rare, and that only 14% of grizzly bear attacks worldwide result in fatal accidents.
However, Titchener said, “The victims may have surprised the bear at close range, causing the bear to attack defensively,” and added, “The fact that one can of bear spray was empty is evidence that they attempted to scare the bear.”
Experts advise that if you find bear feces or claw marks in the wild, you should leave the scene immediately and carry bear repellent spray just in case.
Kim Ye-seul,
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.