According to a report from the Conservation Officer Service, coming out of British Columbia, a 58-year-old man was attacked by a grizzly bear while mountain biking with his wife in the Lillooet area of the Spruce Lake Wilderness this past Sunday, August 16th.

The man and his wife were biking along the Castle Pass Trail in that area when he was attacked by the bear, who also had two cubs with her. This was shortly after 4 P.M. local time.

The man's wife fended off the bear by using bear spray, which did cause the bear to give up its attack and flee the area with the cubs.

The man suffered non-life-threatening injuries to his leg and abdomen. Pemberton Search & Rescue and an air ambulance airlifted the man to a hospital in Kamloops. His wife was not injured.

The Conservation Officer Service (COS) was able to interview the man that night about the incident, with the COS Predator Attack Team heading into the area the following morning to begin their investigation. That investigation was concluded on Monday and determined that this was a surprise defensive attack. No effort has been or will be made to capture the bears.

Staying Safe Around Bears - Bears (U.S. National Park Service)

Avoiding an Encounter Following viewing etiquette is the first step to avoiding an encounter with a bear that could escalate into an attack. Keeping your distance and not surprising bears are some of the most important things you can do. Most bears will avoid humans if they hear them coming.