A man suffered non-life-threatening injuries after he was attacked by a grizzly bear Sunday evening near Pemberton, B.C. The B.C. Conservation Officer Service responded to the reported attack in the backcountry area of the Rutherford Creek drainage, where officers determined the incident was not a predatory encounter. “The investigation determined the attack was defensive in nature and resulted from a close-range surprise encounter,” the conservation officer service said in a statement. The injured man “was able to self-rescue and seek medical attention,” the agency said. Investigators with the service’s specialized Predator Attack Team attended the scene and found no ongoing threat to public safety. The statement said warning signs are being installed in the area and backcountry users are encouraged to remain vigilant for potential wildlife encounters. The agency urges hikers and others using the backcountry to make noise and travel in groups whenever possible. Visitors are also encouraged to carry bear spray and give wildlife plenty of space. “If you encounter a bear, remain calm, back away slowly and avoid running,” the statement said. A spokesperson for B.C.’s Environment Ministry was expected to provide more information about the attack on Monday. The incident occurred just hours after a three-year-old girl was attacked and injured by a black bear in the Metro Vancouver community of Maple Ridge. The toddler was airlifted to hospital in Vancouver after she was attacked in her backyard at around 11:30 a.m.
