A grizzly bear attacked and killed two people in Banff National Park west of Sundre, Alta., on Friday night, Parks Canada says.
The people who died were husband and wife, according to Kim Titchener, the founder of Bear Safety and More, who is a friend of the family. The couple’s dog, who was with them at the time, was also killed.
“They were outdoors people who were very used to going out into the backcountry,” said Titchener, who heard the news of the incident on Saturday afternoon.Â
“I’m sure [it’s] an incredible shock for their family and I just really feel for them. It’s a horrible situation.”
Parks Canada received an alert from a GPS device in the Red Deer River Valley west of Ya Ha Tinda Ranch at about 8 p.m. on Friday indicating a bear attack, said Natalie Fay, external relations manager for the Banff field unit.
In a statement, Fay said a team specially trained in wildlife attacks was immediately mobilized, but weather hindered their response time.
“Weather conditions at the time did not allow for helicopter use, and the response team travelled through the night to the location by the ground,” she said.
“The response team arrived on-site at 1 a.m. and discovered two deceased individuals.”
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