Stock photo of a grizzly bear; not the one in question. (ID 27013210 © Dennis Donohue | Dreamstime.com)

By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

be bear aware

Fish and Wildlife warn of grizzly attack west of Crossfield

Sep 4, 2024 | 8:17 PM

Alberta Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Services (FWES) says they’ve received a report from RCMP that an individual was attacked by a female grizzly bear near the hamlet of Madden, Alberta.

Madden is located about 18 kilometres due west of Crossfield.

Reports indicate the mother bear was with sub-adult bears at the time of the attack, which took place in a forested area. The victim sustained serious, but non-life-threatening injuries.

Further investigation using DNA samples has determined that the same bear is responsible for a fatal 2021 attack near Waiparous, Alberta — about 67 km southwest and much closer to the mountains than Madden.

“Fish and Wildlife officers are actively working to locate the bear, including setting numerous traps and deploying low-flying aircraft. Residents may also notice an increased presence of fish and wildlife officers patrolling in the area,” FWES says in a release.

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“Albertans are urged to report any sightings of a female grizzly bear with sub-adult bears in the Madden area, specifically between Lochend Road and Highway 22, to the Report-A-Poacher hotline at 1-800-642-3200.”

Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Services also encourages residents and visitors to the area to exercise caution when outdoors, including carrying deterrents such as noisemakers and bear spray. For more information on bear safety, visit the BearSmart page on Alberta.ca.

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