Woman who tangled with bear won’t face charges

A woman attacked by a bear on Sunday was facing more than fear — she could have been charged.

What began as a leisurely walk with her dog in the Canmore Reservoir turned dangerous when she entered an area closed because of bear activity.

After an investigation by Alberta Justice and Solicitor General, it was determined that the attack was a “defensive surprise encounter” and she won’t be facing charges.

“It has been determined that the woman and her leashed dog were likely running along a trail next to the berm, which is a part of the closure. She may have inadvertently crossed into part of the closure while travelling, roughly halfway down the east side of the Canmore Reservoir,” the Alberta Justice statement released Wednesday stated.

The encounter resulted in minor injuries for the woman and no injuries for her pet.

There were signs and warning tape throughout the park, but the statement said “it is not possible to spread these throughout the entire closure and in some cases tape has been torn down,” which could possibly result in dangerous crossover.

There were no reports of bear cubs related to the event and it is not believed to have been a grizzly bear. Instead, it’s more likely to have been a black bear, which have been seen feeding on berries in the area, Sherene Khaw of Alberta Justice told Postmedia on Tuesday.

Residents are urged to be “bear aware” in forested areas, especially where there are bushes with berries. Officials recommend people carry bear spray, keep pets on leash and make plenty of noise when in territory frequented by bears and other wildlife.

“If you do hear noises, quietly retreating and leaving the area is the best tactic so not to further attract an animal’s attention,” the statement from Alberta Justice read.

Trails and popular day-use areas in Canmore will remain closed until further notice while bears feed in the area.