Three bears are dead, a fourth is at large and a Haines Junction resident is recovering in the hospital after being mauled by a grizzly on the Trans Canada Trail connecting Pine Lake to Haines Junction, according to Yukon Conservation Officer Services via Facebook.
According to the July 2 update, conservation officers went to a report of a “serious bear incident” on the trail (near Pine Lake Campground) at around 10:30 p.m. on June 30.
According to the post, the local resident was out for a jog with their leashed dog when they came across a group of grizzlies on the trail. The jogger tried to increase space but the dog “broke free” which caused one of the bears to become defensive and attack the person. The attack resulted in "significant injuries” that required medical attention.
“It is believed the dog also caused the bear to break off the attack providing the individual opportunity to retreat and call for help,” reads the post.
The post states that a conservation officer immediately responded to the initial report. When they arrived at the site, the officer “euthanized” a bear at the precise location of the attack.
But the officer got information that multiple bears were involved.
Three more bears that matched a description were found in the area. Two additional bears were “euthanized,” as noted in the post. Work is underway to recover the fourth bear, with officers monitoring the area and using tools like helicopters and drones to search for it.
The bears were shot by conservation officers, according to an email response to the News' questions from the Yukon Environment department, which leads communications for Yukon Conservation Officer Services. Reports on social media and a first-hand account by CKRW indicate people heard what sounded like multiple gunshots in the area at around the time of the reported attack.
“In the interest of public safety, the nearby campground was evacuated and closed,” reads the post.
“Yukon Conservation Officer Services extends its best wishes to the individual involved in the incident and their family."
The post notes the individual involved has been giving information to officers as part of the ongoing investigation.
“Full necropsies are being conducted on the bears involved in this event. The group is a mixed composition of ages and sexes. DNA samples from the bears as well as forensic samples from the scene will be provided to a lab in Alberta to help identify the bear that attacked the person,” reads the post.
“The necropsy and tests will help confirm group dynamic between the bears and whether they are related, in breeding condition and other genetic factors. This information is important to our response as it informs what the public safety risk could be following this interaction.”
The post indicates signs are up around Haines Junction and the Trans Canada Trail between Pine Lake and the village to advise the public of bear activity.
The Environment department said a segment of the trail near Pine Lake Campground is blocked off and the campground remains closed as of the evening of July 2.
The post directs people to go to Yukon Parks on Facebook or the Yukon government website for updates on campground status.
“We recognize the public concern around euthanizing bears following a defensive attack. In circumstances like this, critical decisions are made in the interest of public safety and the safety of personnel, in conjunction with predator attack response protocols, using all information available. Officers take this responsibility and the outcomes of their decisions seriously,” reads the post.
Conservations officers thanked people who helped the survivor of the bear attack, as well as Yukon Parks, Parks Canada, RCMP and other first responders who supported the campground evacuation and response.
“Thanks are also extended to those who were camping at the time for their cooperation and to those who helped their fellow campers in evacuating quickly and safely,” the post reads.
Conservation officers were not made available for interview upon the News’ request.
The Environment department communications staffer told the News by email that there have been 17 bear deaths across the Yukon as of June 24: six killed in collisions, nine for "control" purposes like public safety or to relieve suffering and two killed by Yukoners in defence of self and property.
On June 7, conservation officer services posted to Facebook about how the trail between the village and the campground is a “high frequency area for bears at this time of year.”
The June post offers the following safety tips for people in Haines Junction and “everywhere else in the Yukon”:
• Be alert, watch for signs of bear activity and carry bear spray.
• Respect their space. Do not approach or feed bears and avoid routes where there is a known bear in area.
• Keep children close, pets on a leash and make plenty of noise.
• Secure your attractants.
Contact Dana Hatherly at dana.hatherly@yukon-news.com
