Sicamous Grizzly Bear Attack Injures Hiker, Prompts Safety Warnings

A man hiking with his off-leash dog near Sicamous, B.C., was injured Tuesday evening after an encounter with a grizzly bear along Queest Mountain Forest Service Road.

The B.C. Conservation Officer Service determined the attack was defensive in nature. The man received medical attention for non-life-threatening injuries, and officers are not trying to capture or locate the bear.

Dog chased before contact

The encounter began while the man was hiking with his dog off leash. According to the conservation service, the grizzly chased the dog and then made contact with the man.

This incident follows a recent attack in Bella Coola, where a grizzly sow and her cubs were likely involved, resulting in injuries to four individuals.

“The bear chased the dog and subsequently contacted the man,” the B.C. Conservation Officer Service said in a statement cited in the reporting. “The man received medical attention for non-life-threatening injuries.”

The incident is a sharp reminder of how quickly a backcountry outing can change when pets and wildlife cross paths. Officials have not described the bear as a continuing target for removal, saying their investigation found the encounter was defensive.

No effort to capture bear

Because the attack was deemed defensive, conservation officers are not attempting to capture or locate the grizzly.

That decision is significant. In this case, officers have framed the incident not as a bear actively seeking out people, but as an encounter that unfolded after the animal chased the off-leash dog and then came into contact with the man.

Warning signs have been posted in the area. Conservation officers said they will continue to monitor bear activity and respond as needed.

Safety warning for backcountry users

Officials are urging people heading into the backcountry to follow wildlife safety precautions, with particular emphasis on leashing pets and carrying bear spray.

“The public is encouraged to familiarize themselves with safety precautions in case of wildlife encounters, including leashing pets and carrying bear spray,” the conservation service said in a social media post.

The warning is especially pointed because the dog was off leash when the encounter occurred. Officials have not said the dog was injured, and the verified reports focus on the man’s injuries and the bear’s behaviour.

For hikers, the message from conservation officers is straightforward: pets can change the dynamics of a wildlife encounter, and basic precautions matter.

Bears active before hibernation

The conservation service also linked current bear activity to environmental and seasonal pressures.

“Bears are dealing with drought conditions, and are active as they need to find berries and food in advance of hibernation,” the service said.

That means backcountry users in areas where bears may be present are being asked to think ahead before heading out. The advice from officials is not to avoid the outdoors entirely, but to be prepared for the possibility of a wildlife encounter.

For now, the area around Queest Mountain Forest Service Road carries posted warnings, and conservation officers say they will keep monitoring bear activity and respond when needed. The grizzly involved in Tuesday evening’s encounter is not being pursued.

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