Mountain Biking - Cyclist killed by grizzly bear in Alberta

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Source: Toronto Star (http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1118055366859&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968705899037&t=TS_Home)

CANMORE, Alta. — A well-known competitive mountain biker killed by a grizzly bear was running on a trail in a wildlife corridor that people had been asked not to use, municipal and environmental officials said today.

Isabelle Dube, originally from Cap-St-Ignace near Quebec City, was running with two friends Sunday on a popular hiking trail in Canmore, 90 kilometres west of Calgary, when the bear attacked. Her companions ran for help to the nearby SilverTip Golf Course and were not harmed, said RCMP Cpl. Brad Freer.

Fish and wildlife officers later shot and killed the grizzly, which had been relocated just eight days earlier.

The trail, just outside Canmore across the lower slopes of Mount Lady Macdonald, had been subject to a voluntary closure going back as far as April to protect a corridor designed to allow wildlife, including cougars and bears, to move between habitats.

But those corridors have come under increasing pressure from recreational users, said Mike McIvor of the Bow Valley Naturalists.

"Particularly with the advent of mountain biking, there's been a huge proliferation of trails," he said.

McIvor said one provincial official told him there are almost 200 kilometres of new trails in the area, all of them created informally by recreational outdoor enthusiasts.

McIvor said the Alberta government has been trying to keep humans off the 300-metre-wide corridors with mixed success.

"They've been trying to reduce the number of trails, (but) over resistance from recreational users," he said. "They've been taking steps to try to prevent exactly what happened."

Dube, 35, was married and had a young daughter. Her father, Lucien, reached by CBC Radio in Montreal, said he learned of his daughter's death from his son Sunday night.

"I haven't seen her in two years," he said, although he added he talked to her frequently.

Dube was the first person killed by a bear in Alberta since 1998. The attack was reminiscent of one that killed Mary Beth Miller, a 24-year-old biathlete, while she was on a training run in Quebec in 2000.

Donna Babchishin, a spokeswoman for Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, confirmed the bear was the same 90-kilogram, four-year-old grizzly removed from the upper Cougar Creek area, a residential area east of SilverTip, just over a week ago.

The grizzly had been wandering from Harvey Heights, west of Canmore, through the SilverTip Golf Course and into upper Cougar Creek where it was trapped May 27.

The bear was relocated after approaching Canmore resident Niki Davison, who was photographing wildflowers. It was tranquillized, fitted with a radio collar and flown the following day by helicopter to the Carrot Creek area, a short distance inside the east boundary of Banff National Park.

Babchishin said bears that have no previous aggressive behaviour are commonly relocated within their home range.

The bear was being monitored and had not moved from Carrot Creek until it moved into the SilverTip area about 1 p.m. Sunday, she said.

Cameron Baty, one of three mountain bikers who came upon the scene shortly after the bear attack, said the grizzly approached him and his companions from over a fallen log but did not attack.

"It behaved like it was guarding a kill," Baty said.

"I don't know the history of this bear, but if the bear was thought to pose a threat to the community, it should have been shot. I've been around bears most of my life, and in my opinion if a bear is scared away and comes back, you need to shoot it or something like this happens."

Canmore Mayor Ron Casey called it "a sad day" and said the attack will intensify debate around development in Canmore.

In recent years, environmentalists have fought for wildlife corridors on the outskirts of the community of 13,000, where resort golf courses and million-dollar mountain chalets have expanded into what was once prime wildlife habitat.

"If we want to try to cohabitate with wildlife, as sad as these occurrences are, they are also a fact of where we live," Casey said.

Baty said Canmore's strong environmental lobby has made it more difficult for recreational trail users.

"The view in town is that bears have more rights than we do. As humans, we have a right to live here as well."

Since 1992, there have been two deaths and 23 maulings by bears in Alberta.

A well-known competitive mountain biker killed by a grizzly bear was running on a trail in a wildlife corridor that people had been asked not to use, municipal and environmental officials said today.


A beautiful animal was killed because some idiot biker couldnt follow rules.

it's unfortunate, but personally i think its a risk that comes with doing htat sort of thing... and its quite rare as well...

A beautiful animal was killed because some idiot biker couldnt follow rules.

??? I thought they tranqualized the bear, put a transmitter on it and relocated it?!

read 3rd sentence.



Fish and wildlife officers later shot and killed the grizzly, which had been relocated just eight days earlier.

:( Missed that line.

A beautiful animal was killed because some idiot biker couldnt follow rules.Exactly.

That's what you get when you go hiking.

edit: nvm sorry my bad i read the wrong thing.

it's unfortunate, but personally i think its a risk that comes with doing htat sort of thing... and its quite rare as well...

This is quite true.

You people are putting a Human life below that of a bear..... I don't care how stupid this may have been, she wasn't doing anything wrong. The bear was apparently already a problem. That's why they re-located it in the 1st place..... I'd shoot it in a second if I'd been in the area. I'd carry a .357 or .44 magnum pistol with me @ all times if I lived somewhere like that....

Sorry if this post offends someone, but I really could care less....

"A well-known competitive mountain biker killed by a grizzly bear was running on a trail in a wildlife corridor that people had been asked not to use, municipal and environmental officials said today."

apparently you didn't bother to read past the first sentence when you said "I don't care how stupid this may have been, she wasn't doing anything wrong."

I dont normally agree with killing animals but it is mentioned the bear has been a problem elsewhere. Its unfortunate but at some point a bear becomes to used to humans and doesn't fear them (which most do)...

To be honest it sounds like a lot of human error was involved with a problem bear. Thats a disasterous combination.

Mael got it right....

Not trying to flame, but I highly doubt a pistol would stop a grizzly. They are much, much larger than brown or black bears that are found in the eastern US/Canada.

Either way the story is a shame, between someone losing their life and the bear having to be shot.

If it could survive 6 shots of a .44 magnum at less than 30 feet, I'd deserve to die....

I think it could stop it w/o a doubt myself.....

Sometimes you only get one shot at survival.... Don't blow it if it comes to your life.....

Just as long as the bear meat gets put to good use, like feeding the needy.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-1644171,00.html

Some more info.

One thing you have to think about is that we have moved in on their habitat. The bear was just doing what it would usually do in the wild. What would you do if you came into contact with a bear?
I already have (while camping when I was 8). A bear walked into the campground 20-30ft away from us, coincidentally a dog named bear got loose from his owner and charged the bear. The dog was pretty big and managed to knock the bear over, then started to beat the crap out of the bear! The bear didn't know what had happened so it ran off; it was later found and reloacted farther north.

If it could survive 6 shots of a .44 magnum at less than 30 feet, I'd deserve to die....

I think it could stop it w/o a doubt myself.....
...

FWIW
A Grizz can survive that, at least long enough to kill you. Typical Grizzly round is a .458 Winchester Mag. about 400 grain. .45-70 also is good. Another big ass round.

FWIW
A Grizz can survive that, at least long enough to kill you. Typical Grizzly round is a .458 Winchester Mag. about 400 grain. .45-70 also is good. Another big ass round.

Nice wording

Never mind that there's no way you could even get six off if it were charging from 30 feet.

And what's with the 300 metre corridor? Do they have signs directing the wildlife to use the corridor, e.g. {Bear to the left, Deer to the right**

The .44 would be better than nothing but killing a brown bear takes a well placed shot. The preferred cartridge by most people for these brutes is the .375 H&H, much, much more stopping power than a .44 magnum. And even then...

Having the gun and getting the opportunity to use it are two different things. Going out in bear country alone is taking a chance, even properly armed. Lots of cases of pairs of hunters being unable to successfully defend themselves from a grizzly attack.

What is truly sad is that this very dangerous type of bear was already identified as a problem and rather than putting it down considerable public money was wasted to, in the end, get an innocent person killed in a truly horrible way.

that makes me laugh. A wild bear identitied as a problem. Well no SHYT its a problem. Its a wild animal.

The .44 would be better than nothing but killing a brown bear takes a well placed shot. The preferred cartridge by most people for these brutes is the .375 H&H, much, much more stopping power than a .44 magnum. And even then...

Having the gun and getting the opportunity to use it are two different things. Going out in bear country alone is taking a chance, even properly armed. Lots of cases of pairs of hunters being unable to successfully defend themselves from a grizzly attack.

What is truly sad is that this very dangerous type of bear was already identified as a problem and rather than putting it down considerable public money was wasted to, in the end, get an innocent person killed in a truly horrible way.

It had a right to be given a chance. If we put down every bear that posed what is seemingly a small problem (as this one 'appeared' to be) we would end up being without bears. I am happy to say that is a very popular way to deal with bears and works 99% of the time, and in fact, leaves us our animals and natural habitat to enjoy.

As I said before this was a series of stupid humans dealing with an obviously humanized (used to human habit) grizzly. That made the situation worse. The end result was tragic unforunately.

OK then, I'd shoot the damn thing with one of my rocket launchers.... And throw in a couple of hand grenades for good measure.... Now you think it would die? These things aren't aliens you know.... Good grief.

Re: .357 or .44 magnum - It's a moot point in Canada at least, you are only legally allowed to carry a handgun from your home to an approved shooting range. A 14" pump shotty (if you have your gun liscense) or one of those big cans of bear pepper spray would be OK.

You people are putting a Human life below that of a bear..... I don't care how stupid this may have been, she wasn't doing anything wrong. The bear was apparently already a problem. That's why they re-located it in the 1st place..... I'd shoot it in a second if I'd been in the area. I'd carry a .357 or .44 magnum pistol with me @ all times if I lived somewhere like that....

Sorry if this post offends someone, but I really could care less....

I'm not sure who is the most dangerous - you or the bear, but I vote for you, and in this story, I vote for the bear as being the victim.

I'm not sure who is the most dangerous - you or the bear, but I vote for you, and in this story, I vote for the bear as being the victim.

I think it is safe to say that Isabelle Dube was also a victim. Certainly she did not deserve to die, for running along a "popular trail" even if it crosses that 300 meter corridor. Besides, as gastro mentioned, what genius thought of a 300m corridor for wildlife to migrate. Frankly I tend to blame the people who brought a problematic grizzly into such close proximity to humans!

A beautiful animal was killed because some idiot biker couldnt follow rules.

How about a little sensitivity, Isabelle was not an "idiot biker who couldn't follow the rules" the trail was not closed, there was a trail advisory meaning use at your own risk! As a former resident and user of the Canmore trail system I just feel lucky that I haven't been caught in the wrong place at the wrong time as Isabel and the animal unfortunately were.

I think the real issue here is the unsustainable growth of the town into wildlife habitat, I don't blame the animal and I don't blame Isabelle I blame greedy land developers,town officials and millionaire weekenders who don't really care that they are destroying the very thing that attracts people to the mountains in the first place.

'Rasher

I think the real issue here is the unsustainable growth of the town into wildlife habitat, I don't blame the animal and I don't blame Isabel I blame greedy land developers,town officials and millionaire weekenders who don't really care that they are destroying the very thing that attracts people to the mountains in the first place.

'Rasher

A-Freeking-Men. I used to really like Canmore, now it looks just like a Calgary suburb in the mountains.

Notice that as more developments pop up, there are more and more unwanted interaction between wild animals and humans.

Sounds like ya'll are down here in So.Cal. :D Welcome to population overgrowth ;)

Grizzlies are the one bear that I feel intimidated about, well polar bears also but I dont encounter them much in the wild ;) . Not many people around here know this but the grizzly used to be all over CA. and in the L.A. area (long, long ago). One of there main food sources were horses. That must have been a sight to see, a grizzly running down a horse (yes they could run that fast).

As far as using a gun, well unless you have it in a thigh holster (and the right caliber and grain)and are ready to draw it out while riding your bike or running, you would not have the time if a grizz attacked you. Even then if you capped off every round you would have to hit the bear just right or you just wasted your rounds and will be maulled anyways :p . Figure this, if you punchture the lung the bear, most times, will live at least another few minutes, some thing like 6 or 7 I believe. If you hit him in the heart then you need to avoid the bear for at least 2 min. If you are lucky, less. Also, takin into consideration, even a skilled marksmen and hunter will not always hit the bear every time causing death which the hunter is prepared to do.

Ok, back to mtb'ing, enjoy your rides this week:beer:

i don't really got much to add to the discussion other than to say that such things are really unfortunate.

the talk about bears and mountain biking also reminded me of this pictures i saw on dropmachine.com:

a couple of the dropmachine team riders in whistler.
http://www.dropmachine.com/media/data/500/192dan_bear_sm.jpg

http://www.dropmachine.com/media/data/500/192pete_bear.jpg

..... I'd shoot it in a second if I'd been in the area. I'd carry a .357 or .44 magnum pistol with me @ all times if I lived somewhere like that.....

I've been riding in the area of the Bow Valley and Kananaskis for the past 11 years and as such, I realize the potential for running into a bear (black or griz) is there everytime I go out. That is the risk I am willing to assume for enjoying the area. I always go out prepared (bear spray and ride two or more) but if I ever felt so paranoid of a bear encounter that I even felt the need to pack a gun, I would quit riding and stay at home.

That's where you should stay then. I on the other hand don't rely on 2nd chances, therefore I always pack my pistol while I'm riding.... I'm not paranoid, just the opposite actually. I'm just smart enough to realize that today's world isn't the same as when I was 10 or 12 yrs. old.... Be your own judge.

That's where you should stay then. I on the other hand don't rely on 2nd chances, therefore I always pack my pistol while I'm riding.... I'm not paranoid, just the opposite actually. I'm just smart enough to realize that today's world isn't the same as when I was 10 or 12 yrs. old.... Be your own judge.

Do you have a problem with reading comprehension? It's quite obvious from my post that I'm not going to give up riding that area anytime soon and I certainly don't need a gun to continue doing it. Now, if it was wild turkeys or rabid squirrels that were posing a threat to me, then I might reconsider. :rolleyes:

Well, when people like this come after you.... I won't go there....
http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/ap/20050607/capt.ny11906071829.chain_saw_border_ny119.jpg?x=380&y=311&sig=uTpjZp4jFagW3ufzLl9gIg--

Full Story:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050608/ap_on_re_us/chain_saw_border_12;_ylt=AoGV7xg7cYhCb1a9gwLm_kblWMcF;_ylu=X3oDMTA5bGVna3NhBHNlYwNzc3JlbA--

Suddenly, that bear doesn't seem too scary, huh?

Exactly.

Unfortunate, but lets keep things in perspective. They'll make more bears. This isn't an endangered species.

Stuff like this happens. A hell of a lot more bikers are killed by cars than bears. More bikers will continue to be killed by both automobiles and bears/cougars/wolves/moose in the future.

Death is an inevitable part of life.

They'll make more bears.



They? THEY? WTF!?

I'll remember that quote next time I see a new species hit the endangered list.

"Ah sh*t, that fox is gonna be wiped out. It's on the endangered species list!"
"Don't worry, we'll call Them up and have Them whip us up a few more."
"Oh right, I forgot, They can do that now! Man...They are great!"

I'm pretty sure bears are not bread in captivity then released into the wild. And I'd sure love to be the guy that tries to run a wild bear farm to repopulate the wild.

KillerB-it's an interesting thing to me that you ride with your pistol all the time. As previously mentioned, we are not allowed in Canada. Hell, the way things are, I'm pretty sure we'd be arrested straight-away if anyone saw us biking with a gun. Are there lots of riders in the good ol' USA who ride loaded?

-RotD

Edited to include this link (http://www.speciesatrisk.gc.ca/search/speciesResults_e.cfm?lang=e&common=grizzly%20bear&op=1&latin=&taxid=0&stid=0&disid=0): Grizzlies in the prairies are near extinct, and are an at risk group in the mountains and northwest.

Somebody had better call someone so that They make a few more up and stop this whole catastrophe.

Perhaps genetic, dna engineering and cloning could make a docile, cuddly, better bear?

Whenever a wild animal looses it's fear of humans it's a problem.

Unfortunate, but lets keep things in perspective. They'll make more bears. This isn't an endangered species.

You've said some things that I really disagree with, but this one takes the cake. "They'll make more" ? What the hell do you think they are mother****ing Doritos? This has to be the single most ignorant thing I've seen you post
The facts of the matter are these:
The Grizzly IS listed on the endangered species list as "Threatened" in the lower 48 states (there is a LARGE population in Alaska) http://endangered.fws.gov/i/A4I.html
It has been since 1975
In Canada it's listed as Extirpated except for the Northwestern population (which we are apparently dealing with)
The cyclist had been given a warning not to enter the area
It's the bear's home turf.

While I agree that the incident is unfortunate (for both sides) it's man who is ultimately to blame not the bear who were here in far greater numbers than there are currently.

Edited to include this link (http://www.speciesatrisk.gc.ca/search/speciesResults_e.cfm?lang=e&common=grizzly%20bear&op=1&latin=&taxid=0&stid=0&disid=0): Grizzlies in the prairies are near extinct, and are an at risk group in the mountains and northwest.

Somebody had better call someone so that They make a few more up and stop this whole catastrophe.

Wow. I didn't know there were once prairie grizzlies, or bears in general. This link says they are near extinct, does this mean there are still actually grizzlies in Sask? Wow.

In regards to packing heat while riding, paranoid doesn't begin to describe it.

This link says they are near extinct, does this mean there are still actually grizzlies in Sask?

I'm pretty sure than any Grizzlies you find here would be in the extreme northwest. Anything below the tree line is safe (Candle lake region), and for a ways north I would not be at all worried. I've seen black bear up in the north, and talked to many others who have. However, none of the guys I've met who live in the north or spend abundant time up there (Key lake area/Cree lake/La Ronge/Patunak/Ile-a-la-Crosse) have ever seen/heard of grizzlies in recent times. Continue your biking without fear!

Except for cougars. Where you bike KrisA, there are lots of cougars. :D

-RotD

Perhaps genetic, dna engineering and cloning could make a docile, cuddly, better bear?

Whenever a wild animal looses it's fear of humans it's a problem.

"Are you a care bear?

NO, im an intensive care bear"

KillerB-it's an interesting thing to me that you ride with your pistol all the time. As previously mentioned, we are not allowed in Canada. Hell, the way things are, I'm pretty sure we'd be arrested straight-away if anyone saw us biking with a gun. Are there lots of riders in the good ol' USA who ride loaded?


Thanks for your post. I'm the only person that I've ever met while biking that was "packing". Nothing against anyone, even myself. To each his or her own. I guess I'm just a "survivor" I suppose.... I've only been harassed about it 1 time, and never been checked-out by the Game Warden's nor the Police in the Arboretium areas.... It's my right to carry a personal protection, and therefore I chose to do just that.

I MUST add that I pray to GOD that I NEVER have to use my pistol to kill anyone....

It's all about risk management, IMHO. If you merely go on a trail in the woods in bear country, you change your level of risk. If you disregard an advisory, you also change your level of risk. If you carry a handgun, you change it as well. Everyone manages theirs differently.

B, do you have a concealed carry permit? Just curious (I do).

Back On Topic:

Does the fact that the bear was relocated necessarily mean he was a problematic bear in the first place? Or did he just get run out of his home somewhere else? It'd be understandable if he were pissed.

The part I don't like to think about is the officials using the bear's radio collar to track him down and pop him. Hardly seems fair. It's a sad situation all around.

B, do you have a concealed carry permit? Just curious (I do).


No... the less my Gov't knows about me the better.... I sometimes carry concealed w/o a permit, just to protect my family of 5.

Better To Be Judged By 12, Than To Be Carried By 6....

I don't want ANYONE to get me wrong. I'm probably the LEAST likely person you'd ever meet to be carring a weapon. You might say that it's my biggest advantage though. The element of surprise will win everytime....

I won't hurt a flea, but I'd give my life to protect my family.... There, now all of you know....

Better To Be Judged By 12, Than To Be Carried By 6....

Heh heh, that's a good one.

It's all about risk management, IMHO. If you merely go on a trail in the woods in bear Does the fact that the bear was relocated necessarily mean he was a problematic bear in the first place? Or did he just get run out of his home somewhere else? It'd be understandable if he were pissed.

The part I don't like to think about is the officials using the bear's radio collar to track him down and pop him. Hardly seems fair. It's a sad situation all around.

The bear (#99) had been seen on two occasions very close to people in the area of the silver tip golf course, on both occasions the animal was non confrontational but rangers decided to collar and move it about 10Km away, the bear returned to the area 2 days later and that's when the incident with Isabelle occured. they didn't actually use the collar to track and kill it,when her running companions returned with the rangers to the spot it was still there standing over her body. speculation is the bear had a kill nearby and was returning to retreive it.

tragic all around to say the least.

'Rasher