Being prepared in bear country helped prevent a potentially far more serious outcome after a grizzly bear made contact with a hiker on the Opal Hills trail last week, according to Parks Canada.
The incident occurred July 10, one day after Parks Canada issued a wildlife warning following a separate close encounter between hikers and a bear in the same area. During the second incident, two visitors from Luxembourg were descending the Opal Hills Trail when they encountered what wildlife officials believe was a female grizzly bear with two cubs approximately 20 metres away.
“The group of two was charged,” said David Blakeburn, supervisor with Jasper National Park’s Human-Wildlife Coexistence team.
One hiker played dead while the other fell backward. The bear made physical contact with the woman lying on the trail before the pair regrouped and attempted to create distance. When the bear approached again, they successfully deployed bear spray. The sow then gathered her cubs and left the area.
The woman suffered two minor bite wounds and was treated and released from the Jasper Seton Heathcare Centre later that day. The pair were able to hike out on their own before alerting Parks Canada staff, who contacted emergency responders as a precaution.
While any physical contact between a bear and a person is concerning, Blakeburn emphasized that the circumstances point to a defensive encounter rather than predatory behaviour.
“This is kind of a natural behaviour,” he said. “A wary female grizzly bear being surprised would naturally lead to this type of behaviour.”
The hikers reported seeing two cubs upslope as the bear left the area, leading wildlife staff to believe the sow had been defending her young. None of the park’s GPS-collared bears were in the area at the time, and officials do not believe the bear was previously known to staff.
Rather than focusing on what went wrong, Blakeburn pointed to what the hikers did right.
He said they had educated themselves before setting out, discussed how they would respond if they encountered a bear, carried bear spray where it was readily accessible and had already removed the bear spray’s zip ties and safety catch so it could be deployed immediately.
“Their actions and their preparation allowed this encounter to take place with really a minimal amount of injury,” he said.
The only improvement, he suggested, would have been making more noise while hiking. Wind can reduce how far voices and human scent travel, increasing the chances of surprising wildlife.
Following the incident, Parks Canada immediately closed the Opal Hills Trail while wildlife officers assessed the area. The closure remains in place as staff continue patrols for signs of the bear family before determining when it is safe to reopen.
Although Opal Hills is well-known grizzly habitat, Blakeburn said the same precautions apply throughout Jasper National Park.
“Jasper National Park is bear habitat,” he said. “Whether it’s Opal Hills or any other spot in Jasper, being prepared, educating yourself, carrying bear spray, keeping it accessible and knowing how to use it are key to safe travel in bear country.”
He also encouraged visitors to hike in groups whenever possible, make regular noise and avoid surprising bears at close range.
Blakeburn noted that the July 10 encounter was the first physical contact between a bear and a person in Jasper National Park since 2014, although bluff charges and close encounters occur from time to time in bear country.
With buffalo berries now ripening across the park and bears actively feeding, Blakeburn said sightings may become more common, particularly in areas opened up by last summer’s wildfire.
“Bears go where the food is,” he said, adding that the most important takeaway is not to avoid the backcountry, but to enter it prepared.
“Safety in bear country is a shared responsibility between Parks Canada and its visitors,” Blakeburn said. “The steps these hikers took resulted in them coming out of that situation with a minimal amount of injury.”
Bob Covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com
