British Columbia

Man suffers serious injuries from bear attack in remote area of B.C.

The B.C. Conservation Officer Service says a man is recovering after he was seriously hurt by a bear while camping in a remote area near Lillooet over the weekend.

Man and hiking partner were able to get away and were later airlifted to safety

A black bear is eating vegetation at the side of the road, with greenery protruding from its mouth. Trees are in the background.
The B.C. Conservation Officer Service said it appears it was a defensive attack by the bear. (Robson Fletcher/CBC)

The B.C. Conservation Officer Service says a man is recovering after he was seriously hurt by a bear while camping in a remote area near Lillooet over the weekend.

Deputy Chief Chris Doyle says the man and his hiking partner were camping on Mount McLean on Sunday, when the man was awoken by a noise outside his tent.

The noise was a black bear, which attacked him, leaving him with serious injuries to his arm.

Doyle says the bear was surprised when the man came out of his tent and appeared to have attacked defensively.

The man and his hiking partner were able to get away and were later airlifted to safety.

The service says crews were sent to the site, but because it was deemed a defensive attack, no efforts were made to locate the animal.