A Bear Was Put Down After Chasing Hikers in Emerald Lake

A fisherman and a group of hikers managed to survive after they had a close encounter with a black bear at Emerald Lake in the Yoho National Park in Calgary. Unfortunately, the bear did not escape with the same fate.

According to a spokesman for Parks Canada, the bear had to be put down after it was considered a threat to humans.

Last month, around 9 a.m., four hikers were exploring the five-kilometre loop of Emerald Lake when they first encountered the adult male black bear. Once the bear spotted them he chased them into the lake, and managed, at one point, to be within 1.5 metres of the group.

One of the hikers present was able to swim away and seek help at a Emerald Lake Lodge. While help was being gathered, two hikers came across the three remaining hikers and together they were able to chase the bear away.

In total the encounter last around 40 minutes.

In order to determine where the bear and the remaining hikers were located, trails were closed off, while Parks Canada staff and a helicopter swept the area. It was later determined that other hikers had also been followed by a bear on the same morning.

When the bear was captured, hair and tissue samples were taken and sent off for DNA testing. The results found that the DNA matched the fecal sample that was collected. As a result of these findings the bear was subsequently put down.

In most cases encounters of this kind are incredibly rare as bears tend to avoid people. In this situation though, the hikers were not armed with any form of animal repellent, which would have aided greatly in deterring the animal from chasing them.

When it comes to areas that are known to be frequented by bears it is important for hikers to have a form of self defense on hand just in case they find themselves face-to-face with a bear in the most unlikely of places.

After all, it’s much better to have a form of defense close at hand compared to not having anything on hand when you require it the most. No one wants to encounter a bear, but simply by having something on hand will give you the confidence you require.