Bat attacks, bites woman in Jasper

A woman went to hospital with a bite wound and a rabies scare after being attacked by a bat in broad daylight in Jasper National Park.

Parks Canada's Steve Malcolm said the victim was sitting at a table at the Bubbling Springs picnic area last weekend when a bat landed on her arm and bit her.

The attack didn't end there.

"The bat came back and landed on her sweater, which she threw off on the ground," Malcolm said.

The bat continued to attack her sweater while it was on the ground. 

"That's when they figured something wasn't right, and they immediately went to the hospital in Hinton and reported it," Malcolm said.

There hasn't been a case of rabies in Jasper National Park in 10 years, but Malcolm said the bat bite victim was treated for the condition just in case.

Parks Canada closed the Bubbling Springs picnic area on Monday and posted signs warning visitors about aggressive bats.

Park on cougar alert

Visitors to Jasper National Park are also being warned about a cougar that attacked and killed a dog in the Pocahontas camping area earlier in the camping season.

Wildlife experts said it might have been a juvenile cougar whose mother and siblings were killed by motorists this summer.

The cougar could have been looking for an easy meal when it attacked the small dog that was leashed to a picnic table in the camp site.

Officials were unsuccessful in an attempt to trap, tranquilize and move the cougar, which got away after it was treed.

The Pocahontas area was closed for the remainder of the season.