Woman airlifted to hospital after bear attack near Whistler, B.C.

A woman was airlifted to hospital after a bear attacked a group of hikers in the backcountry near Whistler, British Columbia, on Friday evening.

The three hikers encountered two bears near Conflict Lake in the Callaghan Conservancy at about 5 p.m., the B.C. Conservation Officer Service said in a social media post. One of the bears attacked the woman before breaking off.

The Conservation Officer Service’s Predator Attack Team, Squamish RCMP and Squamish Search and Rescue reached the area by helicopter. The woman received first aid at the scene before being flown to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Conservation officers killed an adult male black bear found at the attack site because of safety concerns. Officials have not established whether a black bear or a grizzly bear was responsible for the attack. Officers returned to the area on Saturday to continue their investigation. Trail access remains closed, and officials are asking people to stay away while the investigation continues.