A version of this story originally appeared on ExplorersWeb.
A grizzly has killed a husband and wife in a remote corner of Canada’s Banff National Park. The two were experienced backpackers, a family friend told the media. The couple’s dog also died in the attack.
The incident occurred Friday evening around 8 p.m. in the Red Deer River Valley. This is an isolated part of the park with trails but no nearby roads. Banff wardens received a GPS alert indicating a bear attack.
When the response team reached the site at 1 a.m., they found the two dead campers and an aggressive grizzly nearby, according to the Cochranenow newspaper. Park officials shot the grizzly and later closed the area within the black square, below.
At this time of year, grizzlies are feeding heavily in order to put on fat for the winter. It is also a popular hiking time across the Rockies, with cooler temperatures and the bright golden colors of larch and aspen. Several recent incidents with bears have taken place elsewhere in the Canadian Rockies.
There were 26 bear attacks in Canada in 2022, including four fatalities.
