One injured in grizzly bear attack in Jasper National Park

One person was injured following a grizzly bear attack in Jasper National Park, the park said in a social media post Thursday afternoon. The attack occurred on Opal Hills trail, which is now closed and will remain so while Parks Canada monitors the area for the family group of bears involved. In this encounter, the hikers surprised a grizzly bear at close distance and sustained minor injuries as the bear defended her space and family. Parks Canada added that a more serious injury was likely avoided because the visitors had educated themselves, had bear spray ready and knew how to use it, and had talked in advance about what they would do. It’s the first bear-human contact encounter reported in the park since 2014. “This incident serves as an important reminder for visitors to follow all posted closures and warnings, have readily-accessible bear spray and know how to use it, travel in groups whenever possible, and make noise while hiking,” the park noted in its Facebook post regarding the attack.

One person was injured following a grizzly bear attack in Jasper National Park, the park said in a social media post Thursday afternoon. The attack occurred on Opal Hills trail, which is now closed and will remain so while Parks Canada monitors the area for the family group of bears involved. In this encounter, the hikers surprised a grizzly bear at close distance and sustained minor injuries as the bear defended her space and family.

Parks Canada added that a more serious injury was likely avoided because the visitors had educated themselves, had bear spray ready and knew how to use it, and had talked in advance about what they would do. It’s the first bear-human contact encounter reported in the park since 2014. “This incident serves as an important reminder for visitors to follow all posted closures and warnings, have readily-accessible bear spray and know how to use it, travel in groups whenever possible, and make noise while hiking,” the park noted in its Facebook post regarding the attack.