Amidst the tragedy is some sage advice:
http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/06/06/bear-attack050606.htm
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Woman killed in bear attack in Alberta
Last Updated Mon, 06 Jun 2005 16:00:08 EDT
CBC News
A woman jogging along a trail near Canmore, Alta., was killed on Sunday
by a bear that had been captured and relocated out of the region a week
earlier.
Isabelle Dube was running with two friends on a hiking trail near a golf
course in the town located 90 kilometres west of Calgary. The group
rounded a bend and saw the bear about 20 to 25 metres ahead of them, on
the same path.
Dube chose to climb a tree but was pulled down by the bear, said Dave
Ealey, a spokesperson for Alberta Sustainable Resource Development.
Her two companions backed away slowly until they could no longer see
their friend. They didn't see the attack, but could hear Dube shouting
at the bear as they sprinted the almost half-kilometre distance to a
nearby golf course clubhouse.
A wildlife officer, accompanied by one of the women, returned to the
site of the attack, where the officer killed the bear with a single
shot.
Bear relocated in May
Fish and Wildlife officials said the 90-kilogram, four-year-old male
bear had been captured and moved out of the area at the end of May,
after continually visiting the golf course and after it approached a
woman. The woman and her small dog backed away slowly and the bear left.
The bear was relocated not because of any aggressive behaviour, but as a
way of discouraging it from approaching populated areas, said Ealey.
With wildlife officers tracking it, the bear travelled from Banff
National Park back to the Canmore area - about 15 kilometres over rugged
terrain - in a few days.
Ealey said the bear hadn't shown any aggressive behaviours since it
returned.
"This is not a bear that we had any concern over the behaviour of," said
Ealey.
Dube was in her mid-30s, married and had a young daughter. She was a
competitive mountain biker and she and a partner came third in a
seven-day, 600-kilometre bike race last year.
Dube was the first person killed by a bear in Alberta since 1998.
Wildlife officials have sent the bear's body to an Edmonton lab to test
for any unusual characteristics, said Ealey.
People who do encounter grizzlies should back away slowly and leave the
area, he said. Running away could trigger the bear to attack. While
grizzly bears can climb trees, it's not typical behaviour, said Ealey.