A hunter in Alberta is sharing his story of a detailed name with a grizzly bear a number of years in the past that occurred in the identical spot as a person who was rushed to hospital early this week.
“It did convey again recollections of my being charged by a grizzly bear in that very same location six years in the past,” stated Paul Wagman, a hunter and retired police officer.
Wagman instructed Global News he retired from being a police officer because of post-traumatic stress dysfunction (PTSD), however stated in an interview that seeing the newest story a few bear assault introduced again one other supply of PTSD from his previous.
Wagman stated he had harvested a sheep when his personal near-attack occurred.
“The bear got here to the gunshot, adopted us and the scent of the harvested animal all the way in which down and got here at us to threaten and intimidate us to take that harvest away,” he instructed Global News.
He stated he’s grown involved grizzly bears could not worry people as they as soon as did, pointing to the incident this previous week.
On Thursday, Alberta fish and wildlife officers confirmed two males had been searching south of the city of Cochrane, Alta., west of Calgary, when one in every of them was attacked by a grizzly.
The bear was shot by the sufferer’s searching accomplice and is believed to have been killed.
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A spokesperson for STARS Air Ambulance confirmed to Global News that the person, in his 30s, was transported to Foothills Hospital in Calgary, although they may not present particulars of the sufferer’s situation.
That wasn’t the one grizzly assault in October.
Earlier, a pair from Prince George, B.C., had been mountaineering within the McGregor Mountains once they got here face-to-face with a grizzly bear and her cubs.
According to Shauna Terai, there was a “scuffle” and at one level the grizzly bear picked her up earlier than dropping her, giving her time to hit the SOS button on her satellite tv for pc communication system. Her husband Chris then jumped into motion to distract the bear.
Another man from B.C. who fought off a grizzly bear within the East Kootenays on Oct. 2, died from his accidents greater than three weeks later. He seemed to be making progress from his accidents, however his spouse stated he died final weekend from what medical doctors believed was a blood clot.
Kim Titchener, the founding father of Bear Safety & More, Inc., in Calgary, stated it’s a reminder that hunters must be cautious when going to gather an animal after its been shot.
“If they’ve really shot an animal, moving into a bunch, being actually cautious to scope the realm, making tons of noise as you’re shifting via to get to that animal so that you just don’t shock a bear at shut vary,” Titchner stated, describing actions the hunters must be taking.
The Alberta authorities has its personal checklist of tips about learn how to keep secure when searching. In addition to having bear spray, hunters are suggested to hold a noisemaker whereas on the hunt and to be cautious when monitoring a wounded animal.
“Bears might also be interested in animals which are wounded. When doable, have a accomplice hold watch,” the federal government notes.
The authorities goes on to say that after a kill, hunters ought to make noise whereas field-dressing the carcass so close by bears are conscious they’re within the space, and to take away the carcass as rapidly as doable. If hunters see a bear, nevertheless, they need to depart the realm to keep away from risking an encounter.
Though there may be steerage in place, Wagman stated given latest assaults, extra must be executed.
“If we begin to implement affordable searching measures that may cease a few of these adverse interactions and associating people with a meals supply,” he stated.
—with information from Global News’ Craig Momney, Ken MacGillivray and Amy Judd
© 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
