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The Government of Saskatchewan is sharing more details in the northern Saskatchewan bear attack that led to the death of a 27-year-old man over the weekend, only the fourth such fatal attack in Saskatchewan history.
The attack on May 8 – in an area 85 km northeast of Point’s North Landing in northern Saskatchewan, just west of Wollaston Lake – saw a civilian kill the bear at the scene prior to the arrival of Conservation Officers.
Read more:
- Environment ministry urges Saskatchewan to be ‘bear aware’ this spring
- Leave young animals alone this spring, community safety ministry says
The Conservation Officer Service’s Wildlife Human Attack Response Team, RCMP, and Coroner’s Service are now investigating. The body of the bear was taken to the Western College of Veterinary Medicine for a necropsy.
No further information was given about the weekend attack, with the investigation being in its “early stages,” according to the Government of Saskatchewan. The province indicated its sympathies as a result of the incident, stating in an emailed statement, “Our thoughts are with his family, friends and loved ones during this difficult time.”
UraniumX Discovery Corp., a “Canadian junior uranium exploration company focused on discovering and advancing high-potential assets in Saskatchewan’s Athabasca Basin,” according to the company’s website, released a statement on Tuesday about the incident. The company confirmed “with profound sadness” that the victim in the attack was one of its independent contractors.
The incident, according to the statement, happened at the company’s Zoo Bay property in the Athabasca Basin.
“The Company is cooperating fully with local authorities, wildlife officials, and government agencies in their investigation,” UraniumX stated in its release.
“As a precaution, all field activities at the Zoo Bay property have been temporarily halted while the review is completed. Exploration and development work at the Company’s other projects, including the flagship Murphy Lake Uranium Property, continue as planned and remain unaffected.”
In August 2020, 44-year-old Stephanie Blais was killed by a black bear while camping in northern Saskatchewan.
On the night of the attack, near McKie Lake, about 150 kilometres north-northeast of Buffalo Narrows, she was with a man and two children under the age of 10, all of whom escaped unharmed.
The woman had significant injuries and was airlifted out of the area by medical personnel, where she would be pronounced dead.
It was the first fatal bear attack in Saskatchewan since 1983 when two men were killed in separate incidents near Nipawin Provincial Park.
The Saskatchewan government advises if people encounter a bear:
- Stay calm – do not run. You can’t outrun a bear.
- Make a wide detour, calmly back away, speak in low tones, do not look directly at the
bear. - Never feed or approach a bear or cubs.
- Do not get closer for the sake of a photograph.
- If you have bear spray, prepare to use it.
- Move towards a tree or rock. Climbing a tree is not an escape, but the bear may feel less
threatened. Black bears can easily climb trees. - As a last resort, drop articles if very close, it may distract the bear.
- In most cases, black bears will threaten but not attack. If attacked, defend yourself –
DO NOT PLAY DEAD.
Those who encounter a bear are also encouraged to call the Turn in Poachers and Polluters (TIPP) line or 911 in an emergency.
Read more:
- Environment ministry urges Saskatchewan to be ‘bear aware’ this spring
- Leave young animals alone this spring, community safety ministry says
Editor’s note: This story has been amended to include updated and corrected information from the Government of Saskatchewan.
