A man was attacked by a black bear sow moments after encountering her cub east of Williams Lake Sunday.
At about 2 p.m. on July 17, a couple were picking blue huckleberries in a remote area near the Beaver Valley Road when the gentlemen got in between the bear and its mom, said Sgt. Jeff Tyre with the Conservation Officer Service in Williams Lake.
The man sustained injuries to his arm, face and left leg from the bear’s teeth and claws, but walked out on his own accord, and went to the hospital where he received stitches.
“It was a very short attack, just strictly defensive in nature,” Tyre said.
The area where the encounter occurred was remote.
“When we investigated we saw lots of berries and evidence of bear scat everywhere,” Tyre added.
The officers remained on scene until they ran out of daylight, but did not locate the bears.
“We posted a sign warning anyone who goes in there that there’s an aggressive bear in the area,” Tyre said, noting the site is remote and doesn’t receive very much public use.
“There’s only one way in so anyone who does go in there will see the sign,” Tyre said.
So far bear sightings have been down in the province due to an abundance of forage, said
“That’s what this incident was. The bears were foraging and encountered the man.”
