Vancouver Island park closed following black bear attack

Vancouver Island's Stoney Hill Regional Park has been closed following a black bear attack that occurred on Friday morning. According to B.C. Conservation Officers, a woman was hiking with her dogs off-leash near the park in east Duncan when she encountered a sow and her cub. The sow turned and attacked the woman's dogs, leading to the woman intervening and sustaining undisclosed injuries.

The dogs were reported to be safe. Despite a thorough sweep of the area by both conservation and RCMP officers, the bear responsible for the attack was not found. In response to the incident, the park has been closed to ensure public safety. It has been determined that the attack was defensive, and there are no plans to locate or capture the bear.

Warning signs have been placed in the affected area, and conservation officers will continue to monitor bear activity in the vicinity. The public is advised to follow precautions to minimize human-wildlife conflicts, such as traveling in groups, keeping pets leashed, and carrying bear spray, as advised by the conservation service. A social media update has been issued with these recommendations.