Man-animal conflicts are increasing at alarming rates around suburban residential areas. Recent thorough environmental initiatives to protect wildlife have innumerable benefits, but on the flip side, they have given rise to unwanted animal attacks on human habitation. Bear attacks have become a prevalent incidence, with new headlines emerging every few days.
According to a Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks news release (via People), a 73-year-old woman was attacked by a bear that suddenly emerged from the bushes near the Wyoming-Canada border. Authorities report that the woman was with her husband and dog on the national forestland while they were out on a walk, and the bear attacked.
Her husband was quick-witted as he uncovered and sprayed a bear spray at the bear, who then retreated into the banks of Trail Creek and a few miles west of the North Fork Road, as reported by People. The injured woman and husband, with their dog, retreated to their car, where they called for emergency services. The woman was taken by A.L.E.R.T. air ambulance to the Logan Health Medical Center in Kalispell, Montana itself.
People reports, Montana FWP has sealed the site where the attack was carried out and is under investigation as authorities struggle to determine the nature of the bear that attacked to take precautionary measures for the future. The husband and the dog were not injured during the attack or while saving the woman. The 73-year-old sustained her injuries.
This recent attack follows another deadly grizzly bear attack in Canada’s Banff National Park, where things escalated, and a couple and their dog met their deaths at the hand of the grizzly bear in Red Deer River Valley, reports People. According to People’s reports, the Banff National Park issued its statement in relation to the case, stating, “This is a tragic incident, and Parks Canada wishes to express its sincere condolences to the families and friends of the victims,” and it was reported that the deaths happened due to the ‘aggressive behavior’ of the bear within an instance of catching the human and dog whiff.
According to Reuters reports via People, Kim Titchener, a friend of the family and the founder of Bear Safety and More, said, “It’s really just the reason why we’re seeing more attacks, which is more people heading outdoors and unfortunately not being educated on this.” adding that bear attacks are becoming more and more prevalent due to these ‘walks without protection.’
Another attack in Montana was highlighted by People when a man shot at and killed a bear as it entered his residence at 3 a.m. at night. He took the cue from his dogs’ sudden alerted barks and was prepared to strike. None of the family members nor his dogs were injured.
The string of bear attack news that has made headlines over the past few weeks is alarming and should be a wake-up call for authorities to instill and address better protection implementation on forest-inhabitation borders and should conduct awareness campaigns on bear safety to the localities so that another deadly bear attack can be avoided.