In what was most certainly a harrowing encounter deep in the wilderness of British Columbia's East Kootenay region, an elk hunter was seriously injured after being attacked by a grizzly bear sow protecting her cubs. The incident, which occurred on October 2nd near Fort Steele, saw the hunter airlifted to hospital after authorities were able to locate him in the densely forested area.
The unnamed hunter was out calling for elk when the grizzly bear, believed to have been drawn by the sounds mimicking distressed prey, charged unexpectedly. Officials from the B.C. Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) believe the elk calls played a key role in attracting the animal, leading to a defensive response from the mother bear safeguarding her young.
“We believe the hunter was calling and we believe the calls attracted the grizzly bear family group towards him,” B.C. Conservation Officer Service inspector Tobe Sprado said.
In the chaos, the hunter managed to fire a single shot from his firearm in self-defense, though it's unclear at this point whether the bear was hit. Eyewitness accounts or immediate details remain limited, as the hunter's severe injuries have delayed any formal interviews.
Following the attack, he was airlifted to Kelowna General Hospital in critical condition but has since been upgraded to stable as of yesterday. Personal information about the victim has not been released to the public.
“Initial information was that the hunter was able to fire off one shot in self defense but it is unknown if the bear was hit,” the BCCOS announced in a statement.
Following the attack, BCCOS launched a comprehensive search operation to locate the bear and her cubs. Teams utilized drones, helicopters, and ground patrols equipped with thermal imaging technology, but no signs of the animals were found in the area. The investigation points to this being a classic defensive encounter rather than predatory behavior, which is common when sows feel their offspring are threatened.
As of the latest reports, the bear has not been located, and there's no confirmation of injury or death to the animal. The case remains open, with officials monitoring the region closely.
This attack marks the second grizzly-related incident involving hunters in British Columbia within a single week. Just days earlier, on September 29, 2025, another hunter near Fort St. James was bitten on the ankle by a sow with cubs in what was also deemed a defensive action. No further measures were taken against that bear.
Fall is a particularly volatile time for such encounters, as grizzlies ramp up foraging on berries and other food sources in preparation for hibernation. Elk hunting season, which runs through late October for limited bull harvests, overlaps with this period, increasing the chances of close-quarters interactions.
