A conservation officer is on the mend after getting attacked by a grizzly bear near Cranbrook.

BC Conservation Officer Service’s Nicole Caithness said Tuesday a man was attacked while running his dogs along Wycliffe Forest Service Road on Oct. 20.

“The male, who was carrying a rifle, shot and injured the bear during the attack,” she said.

Conservation officers were able to track the bear into a rural area roughly five kilometres away, but when they got close, it emerged from cover, charged and attacked the officers, Caithness said.

While officers killed the bear, officer Matthew Corbett suffered serious injuries to his hands, which required surgery.

Ahead of hibernation, bears are most active this time of year. The conservation service urged the public to take extra caution while in the outdoors – including managing attractants such as food.

@ashwadhwani
ashley.wadhwani@bpdigital.ca
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