Posted on 07/27/2025 6:20:24 PM PDT by jerod
Conservation officers say trails closed in area after e-bikers attacked by 2 grizzly bears in southeast B.C.
A man was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries following a grizzly bear attack near Creston, B.C., officers say.
The B.C. Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) said in a social media post that the attack happened around 4:30 p.m. Saturday when a husband and wife were riding e-bikes along the Kootenay River near West Creston in southeast B.C.
The service said the wife heard her husband scream and saw a grizzly bear running at her. She used bear spray and then realized a second bear was attacking her husband.
"Emergency services were called, and the man was transported to hospital in Cranbrook by ambulance, where he underwent surgery," the BCCOS said.
RCMP said in a separate statement that the attack happened in the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area. Investigators believe the bears are two to three years old and are known to have been in the area over the last few years.
According to police, the two victims were riding their bikes along the park's dike system, near a bat hut, when they were attacked.
"The preparedness in this case by way of ready access and use of bear spray may prove to have been a life-saving measure," said Creston RCMP Staff Sgt. Brandon Buliziuk in the statement, reminding hikers to be prepared to encounter predators in the wild.
The BCCOS says conservation officers swept the area after the attack and didn't locate the bears.
They closed three major trails in the area, installed signage and set up traps on Saturday night, but no bears were captured.
The BCCOS is still searching for the grizzlies as of Saturday afternoon, according to the social media post. It says trails in the area will be closed until further notice.
CBC News has reached out to B.C. Emergency Health Services and the BCCOS for more information.
Creston Mayor Arnold DeBoon, a former conservation officer, told CBC News that there have been concerted efforts over the last few decades to restore grizzly bears in the Creston Valley.
"Over the years, they certainly have increased in numbers in the Creston Valley itself," he said.
"Because it's agricultural land, these grizzlies have made a home down in the valley and feed quite nicely on silage corn in late summer, and they've certainly tried to get at cherry orchards and other orchards here."
DeBoon said it was the third grizzly attack he was aware of in the area in the last few years, but the two previous ones didn't result in life-threatening injuries.
"It's something we worry about because we do have fairly thick cover in places in the valley," he said.
"I'm sure there have been many times people have walked by grizzly bears and they're in thick cover."
He advised people in the backcountry to be on the lookout for telltale signs of bear activity, like bear poop, scratch marks and overturned rocks.
"When you're focused on something that you enjoy, you're not always thinking about what the risk factor is ... and again, there are probably a lot of people here that aren't aware of the number of grizzlies that do live quietly in our valley," the mayor said.
I am amazed there is anyone who goes/lives in bear country who does not know not to jog, run, or ride a bike-any bike- because you look like a running prey animal-you just walk, stomp around, talk loudly, sing-make plenty of noise, carry a walking stick, try to look big, so you look like something to be avoided. Carry bear spray at the ready, and don’t sneak around quietly. The same goes for being in mountain lion country. You do not want to look like a prey animal-you could become one...
“Bears are going to what bears do... Eat! And there isn’t an E-Bike out there that can outrun them”
Maybe not on a windy bumpy path. Straight shot on a semi smooth road the BMX style e bikes flying around my neighborhood are stupid fast. Maybe they have been souped up beyond the factory spec.
concerted effort to increase grizzley bears
Hunt those people down first.
You pretty much summed up my first thoughts.
Scooting around on a noiseless bike certainly would resemble prey to a predator.
Carrying a hand gun in Canada is pretty much a no no, which leaves bear spray as the only option.
Have hunted in griz land. 4 guys on horse/mule scares them away. Single or two people on foot? Pray to God. You are gonna need 12 ga. slugs. Bear spray is for the dead.
I’ve been passed by them doing at least 40.
How fast is a grizzly bear?
Wiki - They have a tendency to chase fleeing animals, and although it has been said anecdotally that grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis) can run at 56 km/h (35 mph), the maximum speed reliably recorded at Yellowstone is 48 km/h (30 mph). In addition, they can climb trees.
But I can disable your bike and kick you in the knee!
Top speed: 70 mph
“E-bikes typically do about 20 mph.”
Old school. Class 2.
My wife’s was electronically limited to 20 mph but the app unlocked the limit. Now easily does 28.
Maybe on the salt flats. Not many grizzlies on the salt flats :-)
Mountain bike
Are you familiar with the story of Field Johnson? He was a favorite guide of Jack O’Connor. He was mauled by a grizzly...probably while armed with his .30-30, and as familiar with bears as anyone is likely ever to be. He had the presence of mind to play dead, but got mauled pretty badly. When he deemed it safe to move, he did, but the bear was still nearby, and gave him the once-over, again. The experience drove Johnson to insanity.
I was just reading about grizzly bears two days ago. Thye stand between 8 to 10 feet tall when up on on two legs.
Forget it!
I don’t go where grizzly bears are. Then no grizzly bear can go where I are.
Creston Mayor Arnold DeBoon, a former conservation officer, told CBC News that there have been concerted efforts over the last few decades to restore grizzly bears in the Creston Valley.
Idiots!
Never been around grizzly/brown bears-only black bears that are less aggressive and much smaller. I would not go into grizzly country unless I was on horseback, armed and with a party of at least three people. I certainly would not go there on an E bike. Bear spray is not designed for them...
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