B.C. conservation officers close trails after man injured in black bear attack

A bear encounter in Squamish is prompting new warnings after a runner was swiped by a protective sow.

Conservation officers are urging outdoor enthusiasts to avoid a network of trails in Squamish, B.C., after a man was attacked by a black bear.

The B.C. Conservation Officer Service says the attack occurred at approximately 7 p.m. Monday in the Skwelwil’em Squamish Estuary Wildlife Management Area, a 675-hectare wetland along the Squamish River.

The man was running along a forested trail near Spit Road when he came upon two bear cubs, the conservation officer service said in a post on social media.

“The sow charged towards him and swiped his arm and leg, causing minor injuries,” the agency said.

Officers responded and have since installed signs and barricades restricting access to the area as they search for the bears.

The public is asked to avoid the trails in the wildlife management area until further notice.

The same trail network was closed in October after a woman was injured in a black bear attack. In that incident, the woman encountered a sow with her cubs and sustained minor injuries in the attack.