A black bear attack on a hiker and her off-leash dogs led to the closure of a regional park on Vancouver Island last Friday. The incident occurred at Stoney Hill Regional Park near Duncan around 10 a.m. PT. The B.C. Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) reported that a woman walking her dogs off-leash encountered a female black bear and a cub, resulting in the adult bear attacking the dogs. The woman intervened and sustained undisclosed injuries.
Following the incident, conservation officers, in collaboration with the RCMP, conducted a search in the area but did not locate the bear. As a precautionary measure for public safety, the park was closed in coordination with the Cowichan Valley Regional District. The officers assessed the attack as defensive in nature and decided not to pursue the bear.
Warning signs have been placed in the vicinity, and the hiker’s dogs survived the encounter. The public is advised to take preventive measures to reduce human-wildlife conflicts, such as traveling in groups, leashing pets, and carrying bear spray.