Latest news with #BCCOS
CTV News
6 days ago
- CTV News
Man recovering after ‘defensive' grizzly attack in northern B.C.
A grizzly bear is seen fishing along a river in Tweedsmuir Provincial Park near Bella Coola, B.C. Friday, Sept 10, 2010. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward) A man was flown to hospital from a remote area in northern B.C. after being bitten and scratched by a grizzly bear Friday, according to officials. The B.C. Conservation Officer Service posted about the incident online Sunday, saying the attack was reported by a group of workers in a 'fly-in' area 110 kilometres west of Fort Nelson. 'The victim noticed a grizzly bear and two cubs nearby just as the sow charged. The victim was bitten and scratched before the bear disengaged,' according to the Facebook post. 'Group members assisted the victim, who was flown to hospital for treatment and has since been released. The entire group was safely evacuated from the area.' An investigation has determined the attack was defensive in nature, the BCCOS said. That, along with the fact that the location was remote, means there will be no further efforts to locate, trap or kill the bear. According to publicly available statistics, calls to the BCCOS about grizzlies are rare. The service received 31 calls between 2011 and 2024, and four grizzly bears have been killed in that time period – none by conservation officers.
CTV News
30-06-2025
- CTV News
All Whistler alpine trails reopened after aggressive cougar reports
Biking and hiking trails on Whistler and Blackcomb that were closed for more than a week due to reports of aggressive cougar activity reopened to the public on Monday, the resort municipality says. 'Operations across both mountains have resumed in full,' reads an update on the Whistler website. Parts of the Whistler Mountain Bike Park were closed after multiple incidents of cougars chasing, stalking and getting close to people on the trails. No injuries have been reported, but the B.C. Conservation Officer Service called the cougar behaviour 'unusual and concerning.' The BCCOS suspects the same two cougars were responsible for trail closures in nearby Garibaldi Park earlier this month. To date, conservation officers say they haven't found the cougars and no new reports came in over the weekend. 'People are urged to take safety precautions in case of cougar encounters, including carrying bear spray and travelling in groups,' a spokesperson wrote in an email to CTV News Monday. Cougar conflicts or aggressive behaviour can be reported to the B.C. Conservation Officer Service at 1-877-952-7277. Advice on what to do during a cougar encounter can be found on the WildSafeBC website.
CTV News
30-06-2025
- CTV News
Injured bear found on Sea-to-Sky Highway euthanized
The Sea to Sky Highway between Squamish and Whistler is shown in this undated photo. ( Officials say a black bear that was found injured on the side of the Sea-to-Sky Highway had to be euthanized. The B.C. Conservation Officer Service told CTV News it was sent to the scene near Squamish late Saturday morning. It is unclear whether the bear was hit by a car or injured in another way. 'The bear was a traffic safety hazard and was unable to leave the scene due to its injuries,' a spokesperson wrote in an email Sunday. 'The bear was assessed to have critical injuries and was euthanized by COs.' The BCCOS thanked members of the public who reported the suffering animal. Several people on local social media groups expressed distain for drivers reportedly pulling over to look at the bear and take pictures. In a comment the Sea to Sky B.C. SPCA said witnesses should consider calling police to report pulled over cars as 'dangerous obstructions.' The BCCOS previously told CTV News stopping cars to view wildlife and approaching bears is dangerous and could lead to fines, after a video of people doing just that drew ire in Whistler. Read more: Video of drivers pulled over on highway to photograph bears in Whistler draws outrage
CTV News
25-06-2025
- CTV News
Some Whistler bike trails reopen as search for aggressive cougars continues
A cougar is seen in this undated image. (Shutterstock) Sections of the Whistler Mountain Bike Park that were closed after reports of aggressive cougar activity in the area are back open Tuesday, and conservation officers are still on the lookout for the animals. The Creekside and Garbanzo zones of the bike park opened Tuesday, but the Ascent Trail and biking trails on Blackcomb Mountain remain closed until 'further notice,' according to the municipality. In an update, the B.C. Conservation Officer Service said to date no cougars have been seen but dogs continue to search the area. 'Since Friday night, COs have responded to multiple reports of cougars chasing, stalking, acting aggressively and being in close proximity to mountain bikers and hikers in Whistler, which led to closures of several trails,' the statement reads. This comes after reports of aggressive cougar activity in Garibaldi Park that closed the Rubble Creek Trail—and the BCCOS believes the incidents involve the same cougars. One of the cougar reports over the weekend turned out to by a coyote, and a report of a grizzly bear on Blackcomb was actually a cinnamon-coloured black bear, the BCCOS added. 'COs are continuing to monitor and assess cougar activity and will respond as necessary to ensure public safety,' it wrote. Cougar conflicts or aggressive behaviour can be reported to the BCCOS at 1-877-952-7277. Tips for what to do during a cougar encounter can be found on the WildSafeBC website.
CTV News
24-06-2025
- CTV News
‘It was amazing': Residents baffled by bear brawl on Metro Vancouver street
Matthew Chow was among those who witnessed and took video of a brawl between two black bears on a Burnaby, B.C. street on June 21, 2025. Two black bears stunned residents in Burnaby, B.C., over the weekend, when they engaged in a fierce drawn-out brawl that was captured on camera. The dramatic encounter unfolded Saturday afternoon on Beaverbrook Crescent, where residents watched from the safety of their cars as the two bears wrestled, growled and snapped at each other in the middle of the road. 'It was pretty amazing,' said Anne Ng, who witnessed the fight. Her son Matthew Chow, was among those who recorded the confrontation from inside a vehicle. 'The two bears were fighting each other, and it got intense at some points. they were ripping each other's fur out,' he said. 'I don't think I'll ever see that again.' The bears appeared completely unconcerned by the growing number of vehicles stopping to watch, staying laser-focused on one another as they exchanged blows. No one approached or honked, giving the animals space to let the confrontation run its course. 'Some cars backed away, and some just turned around and left,' said Ng. While black bear fights aren't unheard of, they rarely play-out in front of humans. They are often disputes over territory, dominance, or mating rights. The incident which lasted about an hour has been reported to B.C. Conservation Officer Service, and residents were told that two large bears were spotted in the neighbourhood. 'I go for walks every day by this area, by the creek,' said resident Al Suleman. 'I think it's going to scare me now for a while.' Witnesses told CTV News that the clash subsided eventually, and the bears wandered back into the woods.
