Woman injured in black bear attack near Vancouver

A black bear is seen near Lake Louise, Alberta, June, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Provincial conservation officers are investigating after a woman was attacked by a black bear near Vancouver on Tuesday.

The B.C. Conservation Officer Service says the woman was walking near her home in the village of Anmore shortly before noon when a black bear came around the corner of her house and confronted her.

The bear kept advancing towards the woman “despite (her) attempts to scare the bear away,” and then bit her, the agency said in a social media post.

“She managed to get away by spraying the bear with a garden hose,” the statement said.

The woman was treated for injuries that were described as not life-threatening.

Conservation officers responded to the scene but could not locate the bear Tuesday.

The agency says a bear trap has been placed in the area and officers continue to investigate the encounter.

The incident marks the second black bear attack reported to provincial conservation officers in the past month after a woman in the resort municipality of Whistler was attacked while walking her dog on April 29.

Officers say the victim in that attack was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after she was knocked to the ground and bitten by the female bear at around 8:30 p.m.

The animal was later found and destroyed by the B.C. Conservation Officer Service “due to public safety concerns,” the agency said.

Residents are urged to get acquainted with wildlife safety precautions, including keeping pets on leashes and being aware of one’s surroundings, the

Residents are urged to get acquainted with wildlife safety precautions, including keeping pets on leashes and being aware of one’s surroundings, the conservation officer service said Wednesday.

A local beach and regional park were ordered closed last week due to bear activity in the Anmore area.

White Pine Beach and Belcarra Regional Park were scheduled to reopen Wednesday after the Metro Vancouver Regional District said a bear “that was getting too close to the public” had since left the area.

The district says food is not permitted at the beach and the concession stand will remain closed until further notice to reduce wildlife attractants.