Photo from the Conservation Officer Service Facebook page

By The Canadian Press

Bear Attack

Two people critically injured in bear attack near Dawson Creek

Oct 4, 2022 | 5:47 PM

DAWSON CREEK, B.C. – A black bear is dead and two women are critically hurt after a family of four was attacked while hiking near Dawson Creek.

A statement posted to social media by the B.C. Conservation Officer Service says the family turned and ran when the bear charged them Monday evening.

The service says the bear chased them and attacked one woman, while another woman and a teenage boy were injured trying to help her.

The RCMP say they searched for about an hour after getting a call for help at the cross-country ski club trails on Bear Mountain, south of Dawson Creek.

Officers found the two women, aged 30 and 48, critically hurt with a large boar black bear apparently “guarding” the victims and ignoring attempts to scare it off.

The Mounties say officers shot and killed the animal, making way for the victims to be airlifted to hospital with life-threatening injuries.

(The Canadian Press)