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BANFF, Alta. - Parks Canada says a grizzly bear that killed a couple and their dog in Banff National Park on the weekend was old, and had bad teeth.
The two people were killed by a bear in the park — the first such fatalities recorded in decades in Canada's oldest and busiest national park.
Parks Canada said the team, which is specially trained in firearms and wildlife attack site investigation and forensics, encountered a grizzly bear that displayed aggressive behaviour and charged toward them.
"This is why there was no choice but to shoot and kill the bear on-site," said Tuesday's statement.
It said a necropsy was completed on the bear, and it was determined to be a non-lactating female estimated to be more than 25 years old and in fair body condition.
The statement added that DNA samples from the bear's stomach confirmed it was responsible for the attack, and it was not collared, tagged or previously known to wildlife staff in the park.
"The individuals were also travelling with their dog, and we can confirm it was found deceased at the site," said the statement. "Two cans of bear spray were found at the scene and their food had been hung appropriately."
The statement did not say whether bear spray had been deployed.
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/grizzly-that-killed-two-in-banff-national-park-was-old-had-bad-teeth-parks-canada/article_cb12e987-3087-5b8b-8b8b-793bd764b85f.html?li_source=LI&li_medium=Recommended
The two people were killed by a bear in the park — the first such fatalities recorded in decades in Canada's oldest and busiest national park.
Parks Canada said the team, which is specially trained in firearms and wildlife attack site investigation and forensics, encountered a grizzly bear that displayed aggressive behaviour and charged toward them.
"This is why there was no choice but to shoot and kill the bear on-site," said Tuesday's statement.
It said a necropsy was completed on the bear, and it was determined to be a non-lactating female estimated to be more than 25 years old and in fair body condition.
The statement added that DNA samples from the bear's stomach confirmed it was responsible for the attack, and it was not collared, tagged or previously known to wildlife staff in the park.
"The individuals were also travelling with their dog, and we can confirm it was found deceased at the site," said the statement. "Two cans of bear spray were found at the scene and their food had been hung appropriately."
The statement did not say whether bear spray had been deployed.
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/grizzly-that-killed-two-in-banff-national-park-was-old-had-bad-teeth-parks-canada/article_cb12e987-3087-5b8b-8b8b-793bd764b85f.html?li_source=LI&li_medium=Recommended
