A female hiker was hospitalized following a bear incident in the wilderness near Whistler on Friday. The B.C. Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) reported that a group of three hikers encountered two bears near Conflict Lake in the Callaghan Conservancy around 5 p.m. PT that day. According to the service, one of the bears attacked the woman before backing off.
Whistler Search and Rescue president Brad Sills mentioned that the organization assisted in transporting conservation officers to the scene and in airlifting the injured woman. The victim suffered a severe leg laceration, but B.C. Emergency Health Services confirmed she was in stable condition upon arrival at the hospital.
In response to safety concerns, BCCOS eliminated an adult male black bear at the site of the incident. Nevertheless, it remains uncertain whether a black bear or grizzly bear was responsible for the attack. Sills highlighted that the area is recognized as grizzly bear habitat, advising hikers to take necessary precautions such as creating loud sounds continuously, not just intermittently, while in the terrain.
The BCCOS mentioned that officers would revisit the location on Saturday. B.C. Parks has closed off trail access in the vicinity, urging the public to avoid the area for safety reasons.
