Woman airlifted to hospital after bear attack near Whistler, B.C.

A woman was injured in a bear attack in the backcountry near Whistler on Friday evening at 5 p.m. PT. She was part of a group of three hikers who encountered two bears near Conflict Lake in the Callaghan Conservancy. One of the bears attacked her before letting go, and she suffered a severely lacerated leg. The woman was given first aid at the scene and then airlifted to hospital by helicopter, where she arrived in stable condition. The B.C. Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) swept the area and killed an adult male black bear found at the attack site due to safety concerns, but they have not confirmed whether a black bear or grizzly bear was responsible for the attack. The incident has prompted warnings from local authorities about the need for hikers in known grizzly habitat areas to make loud noises while hiking, such as calling out continuously, rather than just intermittently.