A man sustained life-threatening injuries after being attacked by a grizzly bear near Creston, BCThe BC Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) said in a Facebook post that the attack occurred around 4:30 p.m. on Saturday night, along the Kootenay River.“A couple was e-biking along the Kootenay River when the wife heard her husband scream,” BCCOS said.“She saw a grizzly bear running at her.”The BCCOS said the woman used bear spray to fend off the animal and then noticed a second grizzly attacking her husband.The woman again deployed the bear spray, and both bears ran off.“Emergency services were called, and the man was transported to a hospital in Cranbrook by ambulance, where he underwent surgery,” BCCOS said.In a separate statement, local RCMP said the attack happened in the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area, and investigators believe the bears are both two to three years old..Canadian man jumps on polar bear that was attacking his wife.Police stated the victims were riding their bikes along the park’s dike system when they were attacked."The preparedness in this case by way of ready access and use of bear spray may prove to have been a life-saving measure," said Creston RCMP Staff Sgt. Brandon Buliziuk in a statement.The bears are known to have been living in the area for the last several years.Conservation officers responded to the scene along with RCMP and swept the vicinity, finding neither bear.Three major trails in the area were closed, and signage and traps were installed on Saturday night, but no bears were captured.Speaking to CBC News, Creston Mayor Arnold DeBoon — a former Conservation Officer — said there have been concerted efforts over the last few decades to restore grizzly bears in the Creston Valley."Over the years, they certainly have increased in numbers in the Creston Valley itself," he said."Because it's agricultural land, these grizzlies have made a home down in the valley and feed quite nicely on silage corn in late summer, and they've certainly tried to get at cherry orchards and other orchards here.”DeBoon went on to say this was the third grizzly attack he was aware of in the area over the last several years, but the previous two hadn’t resulted in life-threatening injuries.The BCCOS swept the area again on Sunday morning, but no bears were seen, and trails remain closed in the area at this time.
